Plan of Action for Committee

Documents Distributed
Plan of Action for Portfolio Committee on Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (See Appendix 1)

Chairperson: Dr M W Serote

SUMMARY
The Chairperson presented the drafted Plan of Action for the Portfolio Committee on Arts, Culture, Language, Science and Technology. Its aim is to redefine the committee's agenda. Dr Serote asked the committee to present their corrections to the draft specifically concerning the Preamble and the definition of "African" in reference to indigenous African Communities. Dr. Serote also briefed the committee on the objectives of each internal sub-committee and updated the committee on the mandated 43 Community Art Centers and their internal goals.

MINUTES
Dr. Serote presented the committee with the amended document for the Plan of Action of the Arts, Culture, Science and Technology committee. He stated that the preamble must address the issue that Africans are marginalized. The most important issue however, is the difference between white and black African conditions. The current preamble, according to Dr. Serote, falls short of this goal. Instead, it remains apologetic.

Preamble
" Notwithstanding the historical use of the term "African" to refer to the indigenous African communities, because of the dawn of democracy in our country and the strides to a non-racial and non-sexist society, the appellation "African" is used in an inclusive and non-racial sense. Therefore the term "African" in this document refers to all South Africans irrespective of colour."

Due to a slight delay in receiving copies of the document, Dr. Serote put the amendment to the Preamble on hold.

Dr. Serote turned his attention to the public hearings for Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS). The sub-committee now has a list of public hearings and must mobilize as many practitioners to attend the hearings. In addition, there is a need to mobilize a multi-racial, non-gender biased, multi-party parliamentary representation to attend. The major problem that has surfaced is the collapse of the steering committee due to the lack of funding. Dr. Serote explained that he is hoping to resuscitate the steering committee as the driver for the process.

He urged Members of Parliament to attend the next scheduled meetings. The committee clerk read off the list of dates for the open meetings for IKS:
May 29^th
May 30^th Northern Cape
June 1^st Gauteng
June 2^nd
June 19^th Fort Harare
June 20^th
June 21^st University of Zululand
June 27^th Northern Province
June 28^th Northern Province
July-Mpumalanga, University of Free State, University of Western Cape

Dr. Serote reported that he had attended a meeting the previous week with ten traditional healers to discuss specific issues in order to demystify their roles. Those included: the air of secrecy about traditional healers, diagnosis and curative methods, the problem surrounding the issues of witchcraft and discussions with the portfolio committee.

Ms N S Mtsweni, chairperson of the Living Treasure sub-committee, briefly addressed the committee. She stated that the project's mission is to look at Afro-centric art and to award people for innovation in Arts, Culture, Science and Technology and Indigenous Knowledge Systems. The awards will not be age discriminate. Specific businesses and government will be targeted to participate in recognizing and sponsoring awards.

Suggestions for alterations to the Plan of Action
Mr F Cassim (IFP) raised a question pertaining to a time frame for the plan of action in the preamble. He stated that it is necessary that attention be spent on the marginalized community for a period. He highlighted Malaysia as a successful example of a twenty-year period for focusing on the marginalized community.

Addressing Language on page 6, he stated that it is important to remember that the Department of Education is taking the issue of a third language to another level. Whereas the committee is suggestive of a third African language, the Department of Education is wanting to make it compulsory.

Concerning the issue of training the trainers of science and mathematics at Primary School levels, Mr Cassim insisted that the committee take a broader approach to training. He stated that technology, science and math are the drivers for job creation. It is necessary that we insist on training accordingly.

Professor J Mohamed (ANC): stated that he believes the entire document revolves around Art and Culture and pointed. This is evidence that the Plan of Action is exclusively proposed for Arts and Culture. Ms. N E Ghandi (ANC) agreed, and stated that she did not think that the committee should encourage the separation of Arts and Culture from Science and Technology.

Mr. M F Cassim (IFP) stated that there is an interdependence of art and music. Modern art and modern music are relying heavily on computer generation.

Ms. L M T Xingwana (ANC) asked about the issue of the Khoi and San languages and if they fell under the category of the 11 languages. These languages have been virtually annihilated. Moreover, she stated that she had a problem with the inclusion of Kwaito as indigenous African music because it was so strongly inspired by African pop culture. She also asked where the Commission on religion and culture was placed.

Dr. Serote stated the commission is seen as a partner.

Dr. A I Van Niekerk (FF) asked if enough money was placed in local governments in assisting the set-ups of the centers.

Dr. M W Serote stated that there is a partnership. He then moved to adopt the Plan of Action. The Plan was adopted and the meeting was adjourned

Appendix 1:
PLAN OF ACTION FOR PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON ARTS, CULTURE,
LANGUAGE, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

PREAMBLE
Notwithstanding the historical use of the term "African" to refer to indigenous African communities, because of the dawn of democracy in our country and the strides to a non-racial and non-sexist society, the appellation "African" is used in an inclusive and non-racial sense. Therefore the term "African" in this document refers to all South Africans irrespective of colour.

VISION
Contribute to positive thinking, and thus contribute to improving the quality of life through involvement in social and economic upliftment of all African communities.

MISSION
Nurture and cultivate skills and creativity of the disadvantaged communities, so that
quality African products in arts and culture will emerge;
Cultivate a consciousness of African language, science and technology.

OBJECTIVES
Contribute to both social and economic upliftment in society;
Utilise human and natural resources and infrastructure to contribute to the
transformation of society;
Search for quality thought, creativity and products in African communities;
Explore unique South African creativity and arts;
Bring marginalized creative people into center stage.

PARTNERS
Department of Arts, Culture, Language, Science and Technology (DACST);
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI);
National Arts Council (NAC);
Traditional House of Leaders;
Religious and Linguistic Commissions;
Pan South African Language Board (PANSALB);
Provincial MECs for the Departments of Education, Arts and Culture;
Other Government Departments;
Business sector;
International partners: Afro-American, Afro-Caribbean, Europe, Scandinavia, Africa.

COMMUNITY ARTS CENTRES
DACST has provided funds for the construction of community arts centers (CACs) in the nine provinces. Through leveraging community expression in the fields of language, science and technology, indigenous knowledge system and art forms, these CACs are the ideal vehicle for the Portfolio Committee to realize its objectives.

The Launch of African Arts
The Community Art Centres will be the vehicle for the restoration of the vibrancy of African Arts in a variety of forms: dance; theatre; music; arts and crafts; literature; film; photography; graphics design; painting; beadwork; implements; furniture; fabric; indigenous games; natural and social science, and indigenous knowledge systems.

A programme of action for these over the next five years has to resolve its:
Value;
Internal capacity;
External support and accountability.

The Value of African Art:
Its effects must lead to social and economic upliftment, and contribute to the moral and ethical regeneration of society.

The Internal Capacity of African Art:
Co-ordination of strategy will lie with the office of the Chairperson of the Committee;
Implementation will be through the sub-committees of the Portfolio Committee, in
partnership with DACST and the community through the community arts centres;
In particular, responsibilities are assigned as follows:
i) Community Art Centres: Mrs Mbombo;
ii) Living Treasures: Ms Mtsweni;
iii) IKS: Dr Serote;
iv) Language: Ms Tsheole;
v) Arts:
vi) Culture:
vii) Science and Technology: Prof. Mohamed.
Monitoring and assessment:
i) Office of the Chairperson will do monitoring over three-month periods;
ii) Researchers in the Chairperson's office must co-ordinate the reports of sub-
committees;
iii) Sub-committees must meet every two weeks;
iv) The Chairperson and sub-committee Convenors must every two weeks.

The External Support and Accountability of African Art:
Partners to work with in each project must be identified, and convenors answer the question as to whether there are enough funds to launch the project.

Detailed Plan of Action
A more detailed plan of action for African Art is provided as an Addendum to this document.

Analysis of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT)
Of the Portfolio Committee, and their resolution through the community arts centres (CACs)

Strengths
i) Community Art Centres in the provinces;
Forty-three CACs have been built, and need to be used to their full potential.

ii) African art forms being practised;
CACs will provide a focus and venue for Members of Parliament to contribute towards building and integrating community art forms so that the quality of life of the people can be improved.

iii) Democratisation/transformation processes in the country;
The CACs will provide the arena for the deepening of democracy at the local level, and further civic and cultural transformatory activities.

iv) Flagships: museums and monuments;
Representatives of the flagships can use the CACs to interface with local communities. Where CACs have an Internet connection, they can access information from the museums.

v) The mandate of the Portfolio Committee.
Members of Parliament can exercise the arts, culture, language, science and technology mandate given to them by the people through the CA Cs.

Weaknesses
i) Non-delivery of what communities expect of Members of Parliament; Through using the CACs to contribute towards community upliftment, Members will be seen to deliver according to expectations.

ii) Not enough funds for Members effectively to fulfill their mandate to the people;
CA Cs will provide a locus around which local business people can be encouraged to contribute towards community development.

iii) Professional research skills not available for Members;
Through the CA Cs, Members can meet, mentor and be mentored by people who have the competence to help fill such gaps in knowledge and expertise.

iv) Portfolio Committee does not have a team to drive the process of capitalising on its strengths;
Using the CACs as a focal point will facilitate putting a team together who could use them for building on the strengths of the Portfolio Committee.

Opportunities
i) Portfolio Committee members are in Parliament, where there is access to provincial, local and non-governmental resources;
Members can use their networks and resources in the provinces and local areas to help the CACs realise their full potential.

ii) infrastructure skills and human resources in Parliament;
By deploying the richness of parliamentary resources, Members will leverage the efforts of communities to improve their quality of life.

iii) Transformation of historically Black universities (HBUs) for the creation of Centres of Excellence in indigenous knowledge systems (IKS);
Communities are a source of knowledge for IKS, and CACs will provide the arena for building partnerships where Members can facilitate the participation of HB Us, indigenous knowledge practioners and local business in linking to these centres of excellence.

Threats
i) Unsympathetic media;
The CACs should strengthen accomplishment at community level, to provide enough success stories to crowd out sensationalist negativism towards the transformation of society.

ii) Conservative groups in our society;
Society needs to challenge and engage with racism, tribalism and ignorance. The community can use CACs as a tool for building on the positive values of their know ledge and moral systems.

iii) Lack of consciousness for innovative processes;
Indigenous knowledge systems are a base for innovation, and this can be harnessed with the establishment of business and information centres at the CACs to stimulate a culture of innovation.

iv) Fear of science and technology in disadvantaged communities; Communities can be made aware that science and technology is embedded in IKS, and CACs can be the focus for exploration, teaching and sharing of science and technology' in local indigenous languages.

OTHER PROJECTS OF THE SUB-COMMITEES

1. Arts and Culture
(a) Arts - dance, theatre, music, arts and crafts, literature, film, photography, graphics, design, painting
(b) Culture: Libraries, Museums, Legacy Projects, Monuments, Heritage
(c) Community Art Centres : Ms Mbombo
(d) Science and Technology: Prof U. Mohamed
(e) Language: Ms N.M. Tsheole
(f) Living Treasures: Ms N. Mtsweni

List of Community Art Centres in the Country
PROVINCE PROJECTS
Eastern Cape · AmaMpondo Community Arts Centres
· Umtata Community Arts Centre
· Mdantsane Arts Centre
· Ezibeleni Library (Queenstown)
· Port Elizabeth Museum
· Queenstown Arts Centre

Free State · Thabong Arts and Culture Centre
· Zamdela Arts and Culture Centre

Gauteng · Mphatlalatsane Theatre
· Wattville Library
· Emdeni Library
· Solomon Mahlangu Project

KwaZulu Natal · Ntuzuma Art Centre
· Stable Theatre Upgrade
· Indonsa Arts and Crafts Centre
· Manguzi Library

Mpumalanga · Piet Retief Multi-purpose Centre
· Delmas Multi-purpose Hall
· Matsulu Multi-purpose Centre
· Lynnville Library
· Nkomazi West Library & Performance
Hall

Northern Cape · Travelling Community Art Centre
· Kimberly Community Arts Centre
· De Aar Community Arts Centre
· Boichoko Library
· Galeshwe Community Arts Centre

Northern · Giyani Arts and Sports Centre
Province · Jane Furse Library
· Thohoyandou Multipurpose Centre

North West · Ganyesa Community Library
· Legkraai Community Library
· Temba Community Library
· Itsoseng Community Library
· Kanana Public Library Additions
· Mabopane Resource and Training Centre

Western Cape · Kwanokhuthula Multi-purpose Centre
· Lenga Multi- purpose Youth Centre
· District Six Museum renovation

i)From the list above, information has been requested from DACST about what the CACs are currently being used for and where they get funding from; ii) There are organisations who are working on the innovation of African Games.. these can be introduced in the CACs for the youth and communities as a means of discipline, mathematical calculation, science and entertainment.

Living Treasures
This must be an award for incentive for creativity, quality products and innovation in Afro-Centric innovation.
· The award will be for innovation in Arts, Culture, Science and Technology and IKS.
· Other existing awards nationally and internationally will be studied, and big business and government will be approached for recognition and sponsorship of the awards.

2. Language
Since the 1996 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa provides for the recognition of the principle of multilingualism; and since provision is to be made for measures designed to achieve respect, adequate protection and furtherance of the official languages which did not enjoy full recognition, the full and equal enjoyment of the official South African languages and respect for the other South African languages used for communication and religious purposes must be promoted.

What we must do to ensure the dynamism and life of African Languages:
a) Be supportive of music festivals funded by PANSALB;
b) African languages should be integrated into the curriculum as languages, and languages which teach the Sciences;
c) Indigenous literature must be promoted;
d) A deliberate effort should be made to teach the youth the African Languages;
e) Profile and promote PANSALB, as well as African Languages, the issue of official languages and encouragement of multilingualism throughout the country and the continent.

3. Science and Technology
· Evaluation of the year of Science & Technology
a) There should be consistent campaigns to popularize Science & Technology and raise consciousness of it;
b) Evaluate the impact of Science & Technology on productivity in South Africa;
c) Science & Technology audit - of who is who in Science & Technology;
d) Train the trainers of science and mathematics at Primary School levels;
e) Audit of IKS;
f) In partnership with PAN SALB, explore usage of indigenous languages m the teaching of science in the elementary levels

4. Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS)
IKS can be described in five categories, with the goal of seeking expert advice for its integration into curricula at primary, high schools and tertiary levels, and also to verify and to unpack the feasibility of these categories, which are as follows.
a) IKS has a potential to establish enterprise and industry;
b) IKS and bio-diversity;
c) IKS and liberatory processes e.g. principle of consensus at Codesa;
d) IKS and social institutions e.g. Lekgotla, initiation schools etc.
e) IKS and related to social issues

Programme of action for IKS
Over the next 2 years:
a) Introduction of IKS into programmes of the African Renaissance;
b) Introduction of the draft bill on Indigenous Knowledge Systems;
c) Meeting of the Steering Committee and the Women in Science to discuss the report of the Public hearings;
d) African Continental Indaba on IKS;
e) National Workshop on IKS (As a follow-up of the 1998 Workshop on IKS in North West Province);
f) Regional (SADC) Conference on IKS;
g) Report to Parliament on the overall programme.

ADDENDUM

Plan of Action for the Launch of African Art in 2000

1. Arts and Culture