Minister of Arts and Culture 2013 Budget Speech and Response by DA

Briefing

16 May 2013

Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashatile, gave his Budget Vote Speech on the 16 May 2013
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Honourable Speaker
Deputy Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla Honourable Members
Distinguished guests

Introduction

Honourable Speaker, since 2009 our work has been in line with our electoral mandate, guided by the theme; “Working together we can do more”.

Despite the many challenges that still lie ahead, we are satisfied that we have made considerable progress in delivering on our mandate and have laid a solid foundation for the future.

In particular, we have succeeded in placing arts, culture and heritage at the centre of our efforts to heal the wounds of our unhappy past, to build an inclusive society and to support economic growth and the building of sustainable livelihoods.

Nation building and social cohesion

The 2009 ANC Elections Manifesto, among others, committed this government to building a socially inclusive society.

In line with this commitment, the Department of Arts and Culture has thus far facilitated 110 community conversations throughout the country. More conversations are currently ongoing.

They provide a unique opportunity for us as South Africans to dialogue on the kind of society we seek to build.

In October 2009, we convened a National Social Cohesion Colloquium, where it was reiterated that we are one people, one nation, bound together by a common heritage and a shared destiny.

During the 2010 FIFA World Cup we initiated programmes aimed at using that historic event to build national unity and foster national pride and identity.

These programmes included the Magnificent Fridays campaign, the schools essay competition and our flag in every school campaign.

In order to take forward our work of building an inclusive society, in July 2011, we convened a National Summit on Social Cohesion, in Kliptown the birth place of the Freedom Charter.

Delegates to the Summit recommitted themselves to the goal of building a South Africa that truly belongs to all who live in it; black and white united in their diversity.

They also committed themselves to a plan of action that will, among others, promote social justice, the values of Ubuntu, human rights and equality for all.

They agreed that at the centre of implementing this plan will be our social cohesion advocates, eminent South Africans, drawn from all sectors of our society.

Some of those we appointed are here today in the House, including former Constitutional Court Justice Yvonne Mokgoro; Ms Joan Ramogoshi, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba.

We are confident that our social cohesion advocates will mobilise all sectors of society in consolidating and deepening the progress we have made since 1994 towards building an inclusive society.

20 years of freedom and democracy

Honourable Members, South Africa will next year complete twenty years as a free and democratic country. This is a milestone that all South Africans should celebrate.

As a build up to that occasion, beginning this year, we will launch a year-long programme that will culminate in the celebrations of twenty years of liberation on the 27th of April in 2014.

Our build up programme will allow us to highlight and celebrate our achievements; to make the point, once more, that South Africa is a better country than it was before our liberation.

Also included in the programme are activities aimed at promoting the National Development Plan; Vision 2030 as our nation’s long term vision; and a basis for collective action and partnerships across society.

Heritage

Honourable Speaker, we declared 2012 as the Year of Heritage. This we did as an acknowledgement of the centenary of the oldest liberation movement in Africa; the African National Congress.

We identified twenty nine heritage projects, primarily to honour the heroes and heroines of our liberation of struggle.

Most of these projects have been completed or are at an advanced stage of implementation.

These include the opening, last month, of the //hapo museum at Freedom Park, the completion of the iconic Steve Biko Center in Ginsberg and the completion of the first phase of the project to refurbish the homestead of former ANC President O.R Tambo in Mbizana.

We have also built a road linking the Voortrekker Monument and Freedom Park.

The monument commemorating the Matola Raid has now been completed.

A number of graves of our struggle heroes and heroines were upgraded and declared as heritage sites. These include the graves of Robert Sobukwe, Helen Suzman and Steve Biko.

We also renamed the Bloemfontein Airport as Bram Fischer Airport in honour of this struggle icon.        

Fellow South Africans one of the biggest achievements in restoring the dignity of our indigenous people, was the return of Troi and Klaas Pienaar, whose bodies were illegally taken to Austria for some scientist research.

We are delighted that these South Africans have now been given a decent burial in the land of their birth.

Equally we are in the process of returning the mortal remains of David Stuurman, a leader of the Khoi people and one of the early freedom fighters who was taken away for imprisonment in Australia, 240 years ago.

Liberation heritage

Honourable Speaker, we continue to make progress towards the implementation of the Liberation Heritage Route, linking sites and individuals of significance to the South African struggle for liberation, throughout the Continent.

Sites have been identified in Angola, Zambia, Botswana and Lesotho.

Last week we had discussions with the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, with a view to building a monument at the place where former President Mandela received his military training, in 1962.

We have also made progress in capturing and documenting the correct history of the early wars of resistance as well as our country’s participation in both world wars.

This we have done through the South African Democracy Education Trust (SADET) Project; wherein three volumes documenting this history have already been produced.

We thank the late Professor Bernard Magubane; a great thinker and intellectual, who contributed immensely in ensuring that our history is well documented.

Union Building

This year also marks hundred years since the Union Building was officially opened.

Despite its history as a symbol of white supremacy, the Union Building is now part of the symbols of our new democratic nation.
In this regard we are proud to announce that we have commissioned the installation of the statue of the founding President of our free and democratic nation; President Nelson Mandela to be placed in front of the Union Building.

Native Land Act

Fellow South Africans, as part of marking hundred years of the Native Land Act, the Iziko Museum is hosting an Exhibition, entitled; Umhlaba 1913 to 2013.

We are also working with the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform to document the legacy of the Native Land Act. 
 
The creative sector and cultural industries

The ANC government has always known that the creative and cultural industries are important contributors to the development of our economy and society in general.
It is against this background that working with our stakeholders, we have identified the Arts, Culture and Heritage as the new Mzansi Golden Economy.
Cultural precincts

We are making progress in the establishment of cultural precincts across the country.

Yesterday we handed over a cheque of R13 million to kick start the establishment of the Ray Alexander Cultural precinct in Gugulethu.

The film industry

Honourable Speaker, last week we unveiled a study on the contribution of film in our economy.

According to this study, the film sector contributes R 3.5 billion annually to our Gross Domestic Product, and provides employment to more than 25 000 people.
We are currently in the process of restructuring the National Film and Video Foundation into a fully-fledged National Film Commission and establishing a Film Fund.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all our artists in this sector who have excelled and won awards, on the world stage. Some are here with us today.

They include Ms Florence Masebe who won the best lead role in the film Elelwani at the African Movie Academy (AMA) Awards.

We also congratulate the makers of the film Layla Fourie that received the Jury Special Mention Award at the Berlinale International Film Festival.

In the coming months we will unveil plans on how our sector will develop content for television as our country prepares to introduce digital television.

To this end, I have appointed a content task team working with Department of Communications, ICASA, the SABC, CNBC Africa, Multi Choice and the entire television sector to increase local television content.

Music industry

Honourable Members, music is one of the biggest sectors within the broader creative industries. It is also an important contributor to nation building and social cohesion.
We are disturbed that this important sector continues to face challenges; including piracy, problems with the collection and distribution of royalties, social security for artists and many others.

To respond to some of these challenges I have appointed a task team to address these challenges and report back within three months.

NACISA

Fellow South Africans, we are proceeding with our plans to establish a National Skills Academy for the Creative Industries, as a centre of excellence.

Detailed plans for the establishment of the academy will be finalized in August this year.

Books and publishing sector

We have over the years invested in the growth and development of the book sector.

We are now in the process of establishing a statutory book council to oversee the sector.

Already the sector is estimated to be worth more than R5 billion and employs an estimated 17 000 people.

We will continue to invest in the development of this sector as part of improving the culture of reading and writing in our society.

We also continue to support young and new writers. This we will do through various platforms and partnerships, including our partnership with the Write Associates, which has now grown to the continent.

Language development

Last year, we passed into law the Use of Official Languages Bill.

This is an important intervention that will go a long way in promoting multilingualism and move us closer to the goal of ensuring parity of esteem for all languages, especially indigenous languages.

Cultural diplomacy

Honourable Members, culture is an important ingredient in building relations among people and opening up other opportunities for interaction, especially in areas such as trade, commerce and development support.

Culture has now become the soft power of nations!

In this regard, we have signed cultural agreements with many countries and are currently implementing cultural exchanges.

We are pleased to announce that as per the decision of President Zuma and former French President, Sarkozy, we are now on the second year of implementing the South African French Seasons.

The first year of the Seasons in South Africa was a resounding success.

We are confident that the South African leg in France will also be a success. This will be launched on the 28th of May and will run until December.

We will be taking more than 800 South African artists to participate in events taking place in more than hundred cities in France. 

We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Kingdom, and plans are underway to enter into cultural seasons with China, Russia, Angola and Nigeria.

We will also enter into discussions with DIRCO with an intention to appoint cultural attaches in strategic countries where we have diplomatic missions.

Funding of the arts, culture and heritage sector

To address challenges in our sector, we have decided to align and streamline funding for the sector. This includes working with National Lotteries Board and our funding agencies to ensure maximum funding of our sector.

This proposal will be included in the revised White Paper on Arts and Culture, which we will publish shortly.

Conclusion

Honourable Members, we have made significant progress and laid a firm foundation to bring about a better life for all.

Informed by the National Development Plan, Vision for 2030 we will continue to increase investment in our sector.

I would like to thank Honourable Sunduza and Members of the Portfolio Committee for their rigorous oversight on the work of the Department and its agencies.

I also thank the Director General, Sibusiso Xaba and the entire staff of the Department, the Chairpersons and CEO’s of our institutions and their entire staff.

We also thank all other stakeholders that continue to add value in our work.
 
It is my honour to present before this House the 2013/2014 Budget Vote of the Department of Arts and Culture.  

Thank you.
Ke ya Leboga
Inkomu

2013/14 Budget Vote Speech by the Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Dr Joe Phaahla, at the National Assembly

16 May 2013

Honourable Speaker and Deputy Speaker
Minister of Arts and Culture, Comrade Paul Mashatile, Ministers and Deputy Ministers here present 
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture, Honourable Babalwa Sunduza
Honourable Members of the Portfolio Committee
Honourable Members of Parliament
The Director General of the Department of Arts and Culture, Mr. Sibusiso Xaba
Chairpersons of our Boards and Councils
Art, culture and heritage practitioners
Ladies and Gentlemen:

Six days ago on 10 May 2013 we celebrated 19 years since President Nelson Mandela took the oath office as the first President of a democratic South Africa. This was the beginning of the Reconstructive leg our long walk to Freedom after centuries and decades of struggle against colonialism and apartheid. That journey took  us to the adoption of our constitution in March 1996 which has been hailed as one of the most progressive in the world. In the preamble to our constitution we declared , “We , the people of South Africa , recognize the injustices of our past, honour  those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land,

Respect those who have worked to build and develop our country, and Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity.”

What a profound statement which encapsulates the aspirations of our new nation.

Over the last 19 years the ANC as the elected government of the people and as leader of society has worked with all our people to actualize the aspiration expressed in the preamble to our constitution. We have systematically removed from the statue books all the laws which sought to undermine the values, cultures and dignity of our people and replaced them with progressive policies and laws. Our fourth parliament since 2009 has been laying more bricks on the foundation laid by President Mandela in 1994.In order to take our Reconstruction and Transformation work to a higher level , we adopted the National Development Plan in 2012.

Honourable members, from our appointment to lead this Ministry and department at the end of 2010 we understood that this sector has three major roles to play in the Reconstruction of our nation:

a) We must lead in the work of building a new South African nation on the ruins of colonialism, racism and apartheid. We must be drivers in what President Mandela called “The RDP of the sole” , Nation Building and Social Cohesion are therefore our core-business.
b) Arts and Culture and the creative industry should be a major contributor to  economic growth and job creation.
c) Arts and Culture can be a potent instrument of creating relations with nations of the world enhancing both political and economical diplomacy.

The last point is very relevant during this year and this month as we are celebrating  fifty years since the formation of the Organisation of African Unity, now the African Union (AU)

We are greatful to the sister people in the continent , who through the work of the OAU , sub regional bodies and other multilateral organisations such as the Non-Aligned Movement , the Commonwealth and the United Nations always placed high on their agenda  support for the liberation struggle of the people of South Africa.

We today pay homage to the founders of the OAU, those pioneering and visionary leaders such as  Kwame Nkrumah , Julius Nyerere, Sekou Toure, Kenneth Kaunda  and Abdel Nasser to mention few. In honour of their pioneering work we will be hosting a month long exhibition of contemporary visual arts by different artists from the SADC region from 24 May -28 June 2013 at the Pretoria Art Museum under the theme “cultural brokerage: Africa Imagined.

Honourable members a lot has already been said about Mzansi Golden Economy. We wish to reassert that Arts, Culture and the creative Industries have been part and parcel of human economic activity and trade from time immemorial. It is today an undisputed fact that many centuries ago our forebears traded in various fine arts from across the oceans; nothing illustrates this better than the immaculate beads found at Mapungubwe and of course the Golden Rhino. How else would diamonds and gold dominate world trade for centuries if it was not due to the role of fine arts. Other forms of Art such as paintings, crafts, still photos, music, film, drama, dance etc. have been known to be identified with various countries, unfortunately the exposure of various role players on the on the world stage often reflected the political and economic strength of their countries.

The Mzansi Golden Economy strategy is nothing else but our own endeavor to reclaim the place of the cultural industries as a contributor to the national economy and even as an exporter of services to other parts of the world.

Honourable members we are pleased to announce that we are making progress in initiatives such as:
a) The Arts Bank: which is aimed at identifying and purchasing art from artists, including emerging artists. Such artwork will then be leased to National Departments and institutions for both decoration snd show-casing purposes.
b) We are also making progress in establishing the “Sourcing Enterprise which will provide market access locally and internationally to art works and performances by artists from all over the country
c) Support for major events in all provinces. Among the events we are supporting e.g  National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, Standard Bank Joy of Jazz in Gauteng, Mapungubwe Arts Festival in Limpopo,, Buyele Khaya Pan African Music Festival in Eastern Cape, Macufe in Free State , Cape Town International  Jazz Festival , Mbokodo Awards, Mpumalanga Comes Alive and the SAMAS to mention a few.

These events are estimated to have created a total of 25000 job opportunities over the last 3 years.

d) Public Art Development Programme .This includes murals, innovative public art installations, storytelling and Street Theatre. Notable among these has been the Cape Town based “ Infecting the City” initiative.

Visual arts

Last year, the Department hosted the Visual Arts Indaba to discuss recommendations to grow the sector.

These recommendations will be put into action this year through the appointment of the Visual Arts Task Team and the call for participation from the sector on issues such as Artist Rights and Resale Rights.

The department will once again this year strive to partner with visual arts organisations to train more visual arts practitioners in the areas of arts administration and management.

Design

The Department has also identified the design industry as a strategic sector that can support the economic advancement of our people.

The design industry has the potential to create meaningful jobs. In this financial year we will focus our attention on policy formulation for the Sector with a view of creating a Design Strategy for the country.

Also in the pipeline is the creation of provincial Fashion hubs. A pilot Fashion hub in Kwazulu-Natal will be established by next year, with a plan of creating similar hubs in other provinces in the near future.

This year the Department in partnership with Design Indaba supported and gave an opportunity to 41 Emerging Creatives to participate at the International Design Indaba; where they were given a platform to show case their work.

We are hoping that in future these young entrepreneurs will be able to plough back what they achieved from the experience and be able to come back as fully fledged businesses people who will in turn create jobs for unskilled and semi-skilled individuals.

Libraries

Honourable Members, we are pleased to announce that we continue to contribute towards improving literacy levels and knowledge development, creation and sharing through the building of Libraries in communities.

For the 2013/2015 MTEF we have been allocated by National Treasury an additional R1.1 billion towards the building of community libraries.

These funds are earmarked to address service delivery backlogs in the provision of community library and information services.

We are also pleased to announce that since the inception of the community library conditional grant in 2007, starting with an initial capital injection of R200 million, more than 900 persons have been employed, 41 new libraries have been built, and 244 existing buildings have been upgraded.

In the 2013/2014 financial year, we plan to build 16 new libraries and upgrade 40 existing libraries.

Furthermore this year we held a Library week in March, under the theme; “Educate yourself @ your library”. The impact of this work is intended to brand public libraries as places of knowledge and learning.

Informed by the successes of this work we have decided to launch the South African Library Week, which we will now be held annually.

On 28 February 2013, in collaboration with the US Embassy the National Library organized Black History Month Celebrations featuring the “I have a dream” speech by Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

In June last year the National Language Services signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Tanzania Library Service Board in the fields of books, modern technology, workshops, preservation and conservation.

Also last year the National Library of South Africa signed a Memorandum of Understanding with National Library of Romania in the fields of photographic, paintings, print, digitization and events.

The National Library also signed an agreement with the National Library of Serbia, Belgrade in the fields of catalogues, collections, digitization and e-publications.

Honourable Members, we are pleased that there has been significant progress in promoting a culture of reading and writing.

However we remain confident that going forward we will do better hence we are strengthening our partnerships with the Department of Basic Education, the Department of Higher Education and Institutions of higher learning, communities and the private sector to ensure that we do become a reading nation and subsequently improve our literacy levels.

Heritage

We continue to support the Historic Schools Project which includes, amongst others, the 160 years since the establishment of Adams College; The University of Fort Hare which will be celebrating 100 years in 2016.

We have also tasked the National Heritage Council to work on the Nkonkobe Heritage University Town Project in Grahamstown together with Amathole District Municipality.

A first public lecture on Early African Intellectuals to celebrate the legacy of DDT Jabavu will be held in September this year. This initiative is aimed at further strengthening the first book that the NHC published two years back on Early Modern African Intellectuals.

The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) will be convening a National Indaba on Heritage as part of social cohesion and nation building.

This will assist the nation to engage in robust discussions around what is a South African heritage that needs to be conserved, preserved and valued as heritage.

As part of restoration of human dignity and preserving our history and heritage, we are renovating graves of those who are buried in the concentration camps.

South Africa has launched the South African Heritage Resources Information System (SAHRIS), the most innovative and revolutionary world class portal, which is a web-based system for the integrated management of our heritage resources.

A tool that is offered by SAHRA to Provincial and Local government, museums and all institutions at no cost., This will ensure that as a nation we know what we have and protect our heritage for future generation. The whole nation is invited to make use of this valuable resource.

National Archives

Honourable Members, we continue to preserve our national archives.

Despite capacity challenges the available staff in the department continues to do their best to deliver the kind of service that our country requires.

We played an active role in the international arena when we registered our documentary heritage in the UNESCO memory of the world register.

These documents include, amongst others, the Bleek collection, the Voc collection, the Rivonia trial collection as well as DOCSA collection.

We are also delighted to announce that we have also submitted two nominations to the UNESCO memory of the world register. These are the CODESA Multiparty Negotiation Forum and MEDU collection.

We have given the go-ahead for the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa to embark on a capital works project to ensure the continued preservation of South Africa’s irreplaceable documentary heritage.

This financial year the Bureau of Heraldry will also have special focus on the promotion of the National Anthem in Institutions of Higher Learning.

This project will be launched in June during Youth Month.

The Anthem will be promoted through the selection of a variety of activities, including distribution of the National Anthem Toolkits.

The Bureau of Heraldry is marking 50 years of its existence. There are many highlights in its 50 years of existence including the design of the National Flag we all embrace today and the transformation of all national symbols including the symbols of parliament.

The National Archives will be hosting the 10th Annual National Oral History Conference from 8-11 October 2013 in the Northern Cape.

The conference is intended to promote the use of Oral History as a research methodology and publicise the National Archives’ drive of augmenting archival records, and at closing the gaps in the archival collections as a result of the Apartheid dispensation.

This year’s conference theme will focus on the 1913 Native Land Act as we are remembering its centenary this year. A number of activities are planned in partnership with the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform.

National days

Honourable Members, Cabinet took a decision that all National Days must be coordinated and managed by our department.

Accompanying this was need to re-visit the way we, as South Africans celebrate our national days.

The glaring problem regarding this matter being that these days remain popular mainly among the African population.

This defeats the essence of celebrating these national days, which is promotion of social cohesion and bringing South Africans together.

In this regard the department is currently undertaking a process of reviewing the way we are celebrating our national days. Once that strategy is finalised it will be tabled to cabinet for consideration.

This year we have successfully hosted Freedom Day and Human Rights Day.

We will be hosting Youth Day in KwaZulu-Natal. The 18th of July is Nelson Mandela Day internationally as declared by the UN General Assembly and this year Tata Mandela will celebrate his 95th Birthday.

We will host this National Day in Umtata, Eastern Cape. The National Heritage Day, which falls on the 24th September, will also be held in Eastern Cape this year. The Day of Reconciliation will be celebrated with the Century of the Union Building on the 16th December this year in Pretoria.

Our international work

South Africa successfully hosted the 5th BRICS Summit in Durban from 26 to 27 March 2013. 

The Department of Arts and Culture, partnered with the provincial and local authorities in KwaZulu-Natal to host the pre-summit build-up of cultural events.

We also contributed to a spectacular concert on the opening evening, showcasing the best of South African, Brazilian, Indian, Chinese and Russian culture.

BRICS countries are currently working on a BRICS draft agreement in the field of arts and culture, to cement our people to people ties and to elevate arts and culture to a vibrant aspect of our interaction and cooperation. 

We also have bilateral cultural agreements with individual BRICS countries:

a) India

Relations between South Africa and India go a long way due to our shared history of struggle against  colonialism .We share  the contribution of that icon Mahatma Gandhi who cut his political teeth in South Africa and went on to use the experience towards the decolonisation of India. Today we share strong cultural ties with India

b)Similarly we have come along way with The People’s Republic of China , Russia and Brazil with whom we have either already signed Cultural Agreements or we are about to conclude such.

Our Cultural Diplomacy is alive and vibrant but we are convinced we can do more.

As we conclude let us reiterate the vision spelt out by the NDP in line with our constitution.
“In 2030 South Africans will be more conscious of the things they have in common than their differences. Their lived experiences will progressively undermine and cut across the divisions of race, gender, space and class. The nation will be more accepting of people’s multiple identities”.

Ena van Schalkwyk, Shadow Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture 
 

Highlights:
•    Reports for the Mzansi Golden Economy’s 2011/12 financial year suggest underspending of R19.4 million within the programme,
•    The Western Cape has allocated R187.841m to enhance library services in the Province.
•    The provision of internet access at public libraries within the Western Cape has seen an average increase of 20 libraries per annum
•    This year the Western Cape allocated of R43.464m to its museums


Chairperson, 

According the government’s Delivery Agreement, the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) has to respond to Outcome 12, which speaks to an empowered, fair and inclusive citizenship. That is exactly why Arts and Culture drives nation-building and social cohesion.

Voorsitter, dit is nodig dat ons presies weet wat hierdie twee begrippe behels en wat dit nie behels nie. Ek wil dit aan die hand van twee voorbeelde illustreer. 

Nelson Mandela het in sy aktiewe openbare lewe daarin geslaag om mense te laat voel hoe dit is om aan mekaar verbind te wees, `n gevoel van nasietrots te ervaar.  Reeds vóór 1964 het hy in die Rivonia-verhoor sosiale kohesie se wesenstrek as volg beskryf: “I have fought white domination and I have fought black domination. I have cherished the idea of a free society in which all persons live together in harmony”. Mandela het inderdaad “harmonie” tot stand gebring deur die wyse waarop hy oënskynlik onversoenbares saamgevoeg het. (Wie sal ooit die no 6 rugbytrui tydens die 1995 Wêreldbeker- rugbytoernooi vergeet?)

In skerp teenstelling hiermee, egter, is die uitspraak van min Lulu Xingwana dat alle Calvinistiese, wit, Afrikaanse mans dink hulle besit hulle vrouens en dus met hulle kan maak wat hulle wil. Minister, hoekom het u nie hierdie laakbare opmerking van `n kollega verwerp met die minagting wat dit verdien nie, want dit dra by tot nasieverdeling – nie tot nasiebou nie. Ek het nooit gehoor of gelees dat u of die president dit repudieer nie.

Die bevordering van veeltaligheid is nog `n prioriteit van die Department. Die Wet op die Gebruik van Amptelike Tale wat in Oktober 2012 reeds deur die president onderteken is, is beslis `n stap in die regte rigting. Ongelukkig het dit nog `n hofsaak geneem om die president te dwing om die wet in werking te stel. Dit het stil-stil op 2 Mei 2013 gebeur, sonder enige aanduiding dat staatsdepartemente gereed is om dit te implementeer. Minister, ongelukkig versterk dit die persepsie dat u en die President inheemse tale minag. Daar moet voorsiening gemaak word vir ’n doeltreffende klagte-meganisme sodat die publiek kan kla oor tekortkomings van ’n betrokke department se taalbeleid. 

Die Pan-Suid-Afrikaanse Taalraad (PANSAT), wat tot dusver heeltemal disfunksioneel was, sal nie hierdie funksie doeltreffend kan verrig nie, wat eenvoudig sal beteken dat die wet nie in sy doel sal slaag nie. Die DA se voorstel van `n taal-ombudsman (of `n taalgeneraal!) moet weer aandag geniet. Die opleiding van taalpraktisyns om hierdie wet suksesvol te implementeer, gaan deurslaggewend wees, en daarom is die toekenning van 11.8% van die program se begroting van R124 miljoen vir beurse vir studente prysenswaardig.

Programme 4: Cultural Development, received the largest increase in the 2013/14 budget compared to other programmes – 32.2% in real terms. This is due to the implementation of Mzanzi Golden Economy projects (MGE) and is also a response to Outcome 4, which addresses job creation and economic growth. 

The Department declared 2013/14 the year of the Mzansi Golden Economy, a vehicle through which large-scale public investment will be channelled to develop the arts and the creative economy. Reports for the 2011/12 financial year point to underspending of R19.4 million in this programme, which is unacceptable considering the amount of jobs at stake. What are the projects short and long-term targets? What are the timelines within which these targets are expected to be achieved? Without these monitoring and evaluating measure’s, the department`s failure is guaranteed. Minister, corruption must not be allowed to destroy this project.

Die regering verkondig voortdurend dat die ontwikkeling van die platteland vir hom `n prioriteit is, maar die vraag is of die Department hierdie prioriteit weerspieël. Wat museums en gemeenskapsbiblioteke betref, lyk die prentjie nie altyd rooskleurig nie. 

Die William Humphrey Art Gallery is die enigste nasionale museum in die Noord-Kaap en moet tevrede wees met `n begroting van slegs R5.6 miljoen. Eie aan mense in die Noord-Kaap, verrig hulle wondere met die karige begroting en lewer hulle uitmuntende diens, nie net aan Kimberley nie, maar ook aan dorpies ver van daar. Minister, put your money where your mouth is,  increase their budget significantly and only then will they have something worth celebrating on International Museum day  this Saturday, 18 May 2013. This year the Western Cape allocated R43.4 million of its budget to its museums and I suggest you follow suit.

Gemeenskapsbiblioteke in kleiner dorpe word ook meer as dikwels afgeskeep. Vir hierdie inwoners is plaaslike biblioteke dikwels die enigste inligtingsbron en plek waar leesstof beskikbaar is. Vir leerders in dié gebiede is dit die enigste plek waar inligting vir skoolprojekte bekom kan word, aangesien skoolbiblioteke nie meer bestaan nie. 

Ten spyte van die Departement se prioriteitstatus vir biblioteke, is daar baie gevalle in die platteland waar biblioteke net `n droom bly. In Kamieskroon in Namakwaland is die biblioteek byvoorbeeld al langer as `n jaar gesluit, omdat `n ANC-kader geweier het om daar te werk omdat daar nie `n rekenaar is nie! Die vorige werknemer het daarsonder klaargekom en goeie diens gelewer – maar natuurlik is sy lid van die verkeerde party! Die boeke is verwyder en na die buurdorp, Garies, geneem. Dit is `n klap in die gesig van plattelandse mense, ontneem hulle van basiese regte en striem die ontwikkeling van die platteland. Die DA-regeerde Wes-Kaap het onlangs R187.4m bewillig om plaaslike biblioteekdienste te versterk. Miskien kan die ANC-regeerde Noord-Kaap by hulle gaan kers opsteek!

Enkosi kakulu.

 

Niekie van den Berg, Shadow Minister of Arts and Culture 
 

Highlights:

·         There has been R8.8 million of irregular expenditure in the Department and R61.7 million within its entities

·         The National Department’s Performing Arts and Cultural Development programmes have a R50 million joint unspent balance

·         Within in the Department R1.3 million in fruitless and wasteful expenditure was identified and R2.8 million in the public entities

·         The DA-led Western Cape’s budget for the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) for Cultural Affairs has been increased to R6.886m in 2013/14

Honourable Chairperson,

before I begin, I would like to take a moment to congratulate this past week's South African Music Award (SAMA) winners and nominees. I would also like to congratulate local musicians, Donald Moatshe and Toya Delazy on their recent BET Award nominations. These two stars have been nominated in the Best International African Act category and are a shining example of the exceptional talent South Africa has to offer. They deserve our support and we will be cheering them on all the way to awards and beyond.

Now if I may, I’d like to proceed with the rest of my speech – in my mother tongue.

Die gebrek aan politieke leierskap is so duidelik in belangrike entiteite naamlik die Pan-Suid-Afrikaanse Taalraad (PANSAT).  Dis onaanvaarbaar dat PANSAT wat so ’n belangrike rol moet speel om die amptelike tale van Suid-Afrika te bevorder, en taaldiversiteit te versterk, totaal gefaal het.  Die personeel van PANSAT het die organisasie in die afgrond in bestuur.  Geld is gemors deur bestuur wat miljoene spandeer het aan regskoste om mekaar hof toe te sleep.  

Die Minister het gelukkig opgetree en van die Raad ontslae geraak.  Die komitee begin juis volgende week met onderhoude om ’n nuwe raad saam te stel.  Ek is vol moed dat daar mense op die kortlys is wat taalbelang omarm.  R78.2 miljoen rand is begroot vir PANSAT en spandeer dit goed asseblief.  Die rol wat PANSAT moet speel in die toepassing van die Taalwet is enorm.  Ek is jammer die regulasies wat die Minister uitgevaardig het om die wet in werking te stel is uiters vaag en gee te veel mag aan die Minister.

Nog ’n uiters belangrike entiteit SAHRA is in ’n hartverskeurende toestand.  SAHRA, die nasionale administratiewe bestuursliggaam vir die bewaring van Suid-Afrika se kulturele nalatenskap is ook geteister deur binnegevegte.  Bewerings van misbruik van mag deur die CEO is gehoor.  ’n CEO wat werkloses sonder ervaring in bestuursposte aangestel het.  Ook die CFO van Openbare Werke wat daar onder ’n wolk weg is, is nou by SAHRA aangestel -  Baantjies vir Boeties!  Alles onder die wakende hand van die Hoofsweep van die ANC.

Die CEO en CFO het hul eie kantoorbegrotings opgeskuif na meer as drie miljoen Rand.

Die bestuur van die entiteite werk vir die belastingbetaler maar maak of die entiteite hulle eie melkkoeie is.

Voorsitter, die geld moet beskikbaar gestel word vir Kuns en Kultuur sodat die werk kan voortgaan.

Under-spending seems to be a continued problem within the Department. The Budgetary Review and Recommendations Report for the 2011/12 financial year (dated 24 October 2012) points to under-spending by the Department’s Programme 2: Performing Arts by R31.2 million, also in Programme 4: Cultural Development an amount of R19.4 million was not utilised.

The Report also highlighted the fact that the Department has a tendency to commit fiscal dumping towards the end of each financial year in order to be seen to be spending its budget. The danger here is that the Department may end up spending its budget on things that are not budgeted for.

In the Auditor-General’s Opinion for the 2011/2012 Financial Year it was noted that only 158 out of 232 planned targets were achieved during the year under review, this was due to the fact that the Department did not have staff capacity. 

One of the recommendations of the Portfolio Committee was that vacant positions at senior management level are fast tracked as this has a direct impact on the achievement of targets. 

According to the Auditor-General briefing to the Arts and Culture Portfolio Committee in October 2012 revealed the following:

The Auditor-General suggested that the main reasons for these failings are due to “lack of leadership, continuous monitoring, accountability and discipline”. 

It is worth noting that the DA-led Western Cape’s budget for the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) for Cultural Affairs has been increased to R6.886m in 2013/14, following the successful creation of 122 work opportunities throughout the Western Cape in the last financial year.

Voorsitter, Nasiebou en sosiale eenheid het items vir spesiale dae geword.  Ons moet ’n nuwe plan maak.  Die probleem is sinnelose, onnadenke uitsprake deur vooraanstaande mense in die samelewing.  Ek het in die komitee genoem dat ministers moet dink voor hulle praat.  Woorde maak seer en skep woede wat middelpuntvlietende kragte ontlont.  Agbare Lulu Xingwana se woorde oor Afrikanermans was vernietigend.  Woorde wat geslagte Afrikaners verkleineer het  -  ontmens het.  Wie gee haar die reg?  Het sy aan nasiebou en versoening gedink toe sy dit gesê het?

Agbare Minister Dlamini van Sosiale Ontwikkeling sê nou die dag in haar begrotingsdebat, ons wittes se voorgeslagte was “invaders”.  Sy durf nie.

In aanloop tot volgende jaar se verkiesing wil ek almal maan, elke mens het reuse verantwoordelikheid.  Moenie dat jou woorde ’n stomp ysterpen is wat deur ’n medemens se hart gekap word nie.

Die skrikwekkend om te dink hoe ontsagwekkend die onderwerp is.  Elke aksie, woord, handgebaar en gesigsuitdrukking is ’n instrument om te bou of te breek.

Geagte Voorsitter, Wie se land is Suid-Afrika en hoe gaan jy en ek weet of ons hier hoort? Wie gaan daaroor besluit of ons hier hoort? Wat moet ons doen om almal tuis te laat voel in Suid-Afrika? Gaan die verandering van straatname en standbeelde dit verander?

Voorsitter, ek wil dit vandag namens die Demokratiese Alliansie beklemtoon dat die DA ’n inklusiewe benadering van insluiting van almal nastreef.  Enige mens het ’n behoefte aan “om te behoort”, ons is kudde wesens.

Daar is nog te veel mense wat nie voel hulle behoort nie.

Help die wegneem van bestaande name en bloot vervang met ander name?

Speech by Hon Thandile Babalwa Sunduza, MP to be presented during the Budget Vote debate of Arts and Culture, Vote 14
 
Honourable Minister Mashatile
Deputy Minister Phaahla
Provincial MEC’s present
Council and Board members of Arts, Culture and Heritage Institutions
Honourable Members of Parliament
Guests
I greet you all. 
 
I would like to thank JEHOVAH Almighty once again for giving me the Grace to debate on the 2013/14 budget of the Department of Arts and Culture. I stand confident without fear and intimidation because my parents are present in the Gallery. I’m Protected! I am talking about the ANC cadres who taught me to fight for Justice till today.
 
I would like to quote a line from a Poem from an unsung Poet, who in her poem said:
 
No amount of torture,
Innocent blood being shared, 
distortion or Pretence can stop us
In Your Holy Name Morena, 
We are You with us taking our land back declaring Peace, 
not only as an absence  of war but as SHALOM –
Justice in Action in your Holy Name, 
the one above and the One in us
 
I would like to introduce my Special Guest at the gallery, Ms Joyce Boitumelo Dipale, who was shot in exile, Gaborone in Botswana on 26 of November 1981 by the Late Vlakplaas Police Commander Dirk Coetzee, helped by Almond Nofomela and Joe Mamasela. Her Husband was killed and her brother disappeared and has not been found.  Sis Joyce is a poet, a Cultural Activist, but her speech and memory were severely affected by torture. 
 
This is the history that has not been told to our generation. A member of the opposition, the DA, once said “Parliament is boring because it becomes a history lesson.” It is indeed boring because it is not the history of only Vasco Da Gama, Bartholomeu Dias or Jan Van Riebeeck, or the illusion of Africans fighting amongst themselves in the wars of imagination, the so-called Mfecane”. It is indeed boring because we now tell inclusive, holistic, balanced and unbiased historical narratives, not the history of white’s myths. Indeed the DA does not want it recorded that Mathematics was invented in Egypt. I understand that the DA cannot digest that the art of writing started in Africa without the interference of their Dutch, French or English ancestors. We commend the SADET project that has written volumes of a better South African history than what we were taught by the DA predecessors, the National Party. 
 
Chairperson, allow me to clarify the false claim by the DA through the so called “know your DA” campaign. South Africans know who fought against apartheid, South Africans know who their heroes are. Those who fought against apartheid endured suffering and were severely tortured. They did not enjoy the fruits of apartheid or use the blood of freedom fighters to write beautiful stories in newspapers in order to make claim as freedom fighters. They joined uMkhonto Wesizwe, – suffered and fought to bring about the end of apartheid. We know the sacrifice that the late comrade Beyers Naude and Trevor Huddleston made. Indeed they had a choice but chose to set the record straight and fought against the injustice, like many ordinary South Africans did. Where were you DA? Before making such
baseless claim, South Africans know that there were few others who joined the struggle but in fact they were traitors, izimpimpi of Apartheid! The ANC knows who these people were. There is no need to disclose their names because their true colours have just come out. Youth of South Africa, it is indeed true that the DA is equivalent to apartheid, BEWARE! Be careful of the people who make claims that they represent your interests while they do not respect your cultures, they do not even speak your languages and continue to receive political mandates from somewhere in Europe. Those people are against transformation and all they want is to use South Africans’ vote protect their own narrow neo-apartheid interests. 
 
Chairperson, I also want to correct this myth that Parliament waste money on food. The DA is on record for saying that this constitutes wasteful expenditure. These malicious reports fail to take into consideration  how many ordinary South Africans attended projects such as the Women’s Parliament, Youth Parliament, Taking Parliament to the People and many other committee meetings that take place in parliament where the majority of beneficiaries are members of the public. 
 
Chairperson, the African National Congress produces icons of international stature. Among these are Chief Albert Luthuli and Nelson Mandela, the former president of the African National Congress and the first democratically elected president of South Africa. Mandela once said:
 
“We are fortunate in the diversity of our nation, and it is through cultural cross fertilization that we can transcend the differences that apartheid has sought to exploit. We must empower our people through programmes of education and literacy through the vehicle of culture, so that we can all begin to share and understand our richness and diversity.” 
 
Chairperson, Honourable members and guests of the house, 27 May 2013 will mark exactly 50 years since Nelson Mandela arrived on Robben Island as a prisoner. The Robben Island Museum and The Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory will host a commemorative event as part of nation building and healing. It is equally important that as part of the 20th anniversary of freedom and democracy, this parliament should use this opportunity to honour Madiba as its first president. 
 
The diagnostic analysis of the National Development Plan identified nine major challenges that are facing South Africans. While all these are of critical importance to the nation, the budget of the Department of Arts and Culture will strive to contribute towards the creation of descent jobs, economic growth and the realisation of a socially cohesive and inclusive South Africa. 
 
Chairperson, honourable members and guests, the Department of Arts and Culture is in an ongoing process of writing a different story of South Africa. This story is based on the realisation of a better life for all and the realisation of economic emancipation in our lifetime. In this new story, as the NPD puts it clearly, every citizen is concerned about the wellbeing of all other citizens, and the development of South Africa means the development of each and every one of us who lives here. We must build on our social solidarity, which, through history and heritage, has demonstrated our aspiration to create a caring South African society. Honourable members and guest, the Mzansi Golden Economy has finally come in 2013. It will attack poverty and expand the cultural industries to become the beacon of our economy. The Mzansi Golden Economy will invigorate and expand economic opportunities in the creative industries by building infrastructure in the arts, culture and heritage sector and create conditions for entrepreneurship and an inclusive economy. 
Chairperson, honourable members and guests, major leading economies in the world have strategically positioned their Creative Industries. The Asian economies grew to become world economic powerhouses because of their ability to position their creative industries in such a way that their products were of high quality. This resulted in the growth of their demand and participants in the
creative industry were ready to produce the required quantity. Their economic growth has been sustained even during the time when major economies of the west were affected by economic meltdown. African National Congress, as a legitimate voice of the people of South Africa, is concerned about the structure of global economy and youth unemployment. It is after this consideration that the Department of Arts and Culture has introduced the Mzansi Golden Economy. Through this project the goal of A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL will be realised. In order for this dream to materialise DAC has allocated R182 million in 2013/14; R233 million in 2014/15; and 244 million in 2015/16.  
 
The Mzansi Golden Economy will also provide an opportunity to streamline the environment under which artists operate. This includes engaging with the DTI to ensure that piracy is criminalised. We also call upon the SABC to develop music and film policies that favour South Africans and African productions. We also call upon the DAC to engage with the Department of Higher Education and Training in order to ensure that the South African public tertiary sector provides film and video training in order to ensure that the industry is truly transformed. 
 
Chairperson, honourable members and guests, two years ago the original copy of the Freedom Charter was brought back to South Africa. The FREEDOM CHARTER remains an important document in the history of African National Congress as it underpins the values of the South African Constitution. The Department of Arts and Culture and its agencies are already making plans to host the 60th commemoration of the FREEDOM CHARTER.
 
The Department of Arts and Culture has supported a number of urban based festivals such as the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and the Johannesburg Joy of Jazz. As these are now commercially viable projects, we call upon the DAC to consider stimulating rural towns in other provinces to start projects that will become economically viable and contribute to job creation.
 
Chairperson, Honourable members and guests, this year marks 100 years of the Native Land Act of 1913. We all know what happened. Some in this house are beneficiaries of that 1913 land act. That is why they are not supportive of the land reform and restitution processes. If you want to check whether a person benefited during the segregation and apartheid period ask him or her views about land claim, he will sweat! Hon Mulder is the best example. How dare did he say Blacks don’t have claim to land?  The African National Congress will continue to spearhead the land reform process and ensure that its heritage is accurately recorded. During this year many national museums will be hosting exhibitions to commemorate and educate South Africans about the effects of the Native Land Act of 1913. 
 
Chairperson, Honourable members and guests, the Khoi and San communities deserve a special recognition in South Africa. This is because long before anyone else, they had been crushed by the evils of white racism. They were subjected to a relentless campaign of extermination, taken out of their land and made slaves. A myth was even spread that they have all disappeared and those surviving Khoi and San communities were given new labels as coloured, boosman or kaffirboetie. The African National Congress is the natural home of the Khoi and San communities as it is dedicated to protect them and recognise them as human beings on this earth. It is for this reason that government has extended the land claim in order to allow the Khoi and San communities to claim land that was stolen from them before the 1913 Native land Act came into effect. On the same spirit the Department of Arts and Culture is in an advance phase of the implementation of the Saartjie Baartman Interpretative Centre. In addition, the Department of Arts and Culture and the National Heritage Council of South Africa is in a process of repatriating the remains of a Khoi freedom fighter and a Robben Island prisoner who is respected for escaping twice from the Island, Chief Dawid Stuurman. In 1823, after being recaptured Chief Stuurman was tortured and sent to serve his entire sentence in Australia. He later died in Australia and was buried as a pauper. By repatriation of his remains, the Department of Arts and Culture will
bestow to him the dignity he never enjoyed while alive. Long live the spirit of Chief Dawid Stuurman Long live!  
 
Chairperson, Honourable members and guests, the African National Congress believes that monuments play an important role in nation building. We will continue to call for a transformation of public monuments to reflect the broader South African society. I challenge the OR Tambo International Airport to mount a decent statue of Oliver Tambo at the Entrance of the airport which will serve as a tribute to the values that Tambo strive for. I am against the existing dummy sitting at the corner, it insults Tambo and South Africans. 
 
Chairperson, Honourable members and guests, the DA is forever challenging the transformation of the national geographical place names, mainly if it is proposed by the ANC. The African National Congress will not be confused by demagogic and racist ideas which are intended to frustrate efforts aimed at a fair representation of the Africans’ heritage. We call upon the Geographic Place Names Council, the Minister, provinces and municipalities to fast track the renaming of Pretoria and other places to reflect the views of the majority South Africans. 
 
Chairperson, Honourable members and guests, this year marks 50 years since the Organisation of African Unity later renamed African Union was formed. This then calls upon us to reflect as to what it means to be an African. The Department of Arts and Culture will accelerate its networks with other African countries and will be contributing enormously towards Africanism. The DAC has budgeted R39 million for the 2013/14 financial year to international cooperation. 
 
Chairperson, Honourable members and guests, a number of museums and art galleries that the DAC supports continue to increase every year. These museums and galleries play an important role in fostering social cohesion, yet their budget does not allow them to operate optimally.  The DAC has allocated a total R700 Million for the subsidies to heritage institutions.  This include an additional allocation of R9 million to the improvement of conditions of service to Die Afrikaanse Taalmuseum (Paarl), National Museum (Bloemfontein), Nelson Mandela National Museum (Mthatha), War Museum of the Boer Republic (Bloemfontein)  and the allocation for the 2014 Africa Nations Championship. Furthermore, DAC has allocated R65 million for the capital works at various heritage institutions.  However, we need to continuously engage the National Treasury to increase the allocation to DAC. In addition, the DAC need to develop a fundraising capacity to all its entities so that they are not solely depended on the government subsidy. 
 
The moral decay in our society is among the biggest challenges this country is facing. The African National Congress calls upon the DAC to re-streamline the work of the Moral Regeneration Movement so that it could be able to function properly and drive the mandate of the social cohesion summit.  
 
Chairperson, Honourable members and guests, the DAC has a number of challenges. I am very concerned about the continuous use of consultants by this department. Furthermore, some departmental agencies’ operations have been paralysed by malfunctioning boards and councils that could have been avoided if the DAC was proactive. I therefore call upon the strengthening of the governance and monitory section of the DAC so that these problems do not reoccur in the future. 
 
In conclusion Chairperson, Honourable members and guests, I was recently inspired by the Auditor General when they mentioned to me that all entities of the DAC are very close to achieve clean audits in the near future, I want to congratulate the Robben Island Museum, under the leadership of Mr. Sibongiseni Mkhize and his team, for having turned the institution around and achieving unqualified audit reports from the Auditor General for two consecutive years. I hope these gains will be maintained and urge other agencies to work towards a clean audit.
 
As the NDP states, “success will be measured by the degree to which the lives and opportunities of the poorest South Africans are transformed in a sustainable manner”. I call upon the DAC and entities to work along this theme. 
 
The African National Congress supports this budget. ANC lives, ANC leads!
 
I thank you
 

 

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