Presidential Employment Stimulus; African languages; Music / Art / Flags in schools; Community Libraries, with Minister

Meeting report

Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP)
Dr Cynthia Khumalo, Deputy Director General: Arts and Culture Promotion, DSAC, said a total of nine projects were implemented during 2020/2 and 2021/22. One which is being done by the National Libraries of South Africa is yet to be completed and has been continued in 2022/23.

During the implementation of the programme, there was an element of skills transfer in most of the implemented projects, such as the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) and South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) projects. Most of the productions funded in the project implemented by NAC were presented on various online platforms as a result of increasing the volume of cultural and creative industry content for consumers. Some of these productions amongst the projects funded by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) were also streamed on various channels and most of them play a significant role in telling South African stories.

Challenges
PESP challenges included that some participants would not complete their tasks, particularly the training schedules, while others dropped out of the training programme due to other opportunities. The programme dealt with a large number of legal matters due to the committed amount in the original contract being revised down at the NAC. This resulted in the implementation process being required to be extended. Also, beneficiaries were not compliant with turnaround times as they requested a longer time to implement their productions, such as in the area of film production; hence implementation had to overlap into the next financial year 2021/22. There was also a high number of non-compliant applicants. The unavailability of film and IT digitisation equipment in the country delayed the project for the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa (NARSSA).

Current Developments
The Department has been allocated R440m for 2022/23 and R460m for 2023/24, which should enable employment creation initiatives for artists, creatives; cultural and heritage practitioners as covered in the cultural domains that make up the industry. The output will focus on the number of job opportunities created in the cultural and creative industries (CCI) through a targeted call

Through the directive of the Director-General, focus is directed on the support of SMMEs in the industry. While NAC, NFVF, National Heritage Council (NHC) and Arts Bank will focus on specific allocated domains; Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) will focus on SMMEs and cooperatives across different domains; especially in the area of non-performing arts

Promotion of Indigenous Languages: Khoi, Sana, and Nama
Ms Lisa Combrinck, Head of Communications, DSAC, said the Department acknowledges the value and the status of indigenous African languages as an embodiment of a people's culture, indigenous knowledge systems, history, values, and beliefs. Based on this fundamental significance, it realised that those indigenous languages could not be separated from their speakers as it is a symbol of their identity. In deepening democracy, language and cultural diversity need to be recognised. The Use of Official Languages Act 12 of 2012 has encouraged using indigenous languages to foster unity, coalition, and Ubuntu. DSAC's objective is to develop and promote all forms of indigenous languages, including sign language. As such, bursaries have been issued with universities for indigenous language practitioners. In line with the Decade of Indigenous Languages proclaimed by UNESCO, DSAC will roll out a language roadmap with milestones for the progress and aspirations for the decade of indigenous languages.

Through its Translation and Editing directorate, the Department ensures that citizens access information and services in their languages of choice. It facilitates communication between the government and citizens through translating official documents into and from indigenous African languages. It also provides translation and editing in foreign languages.

Community Libraries
Mr Vusithemba Ndima, DDG: Heritage Promotion and Preservation, DSAC, said the Library and Information Services Transformation Charter was developed and approved in 2014. DSAC is in the process of implementing some recommendations from the Charter.

The SA Public Library and Information Services Bill, 2012, was developed and costed. The Bill provides a framework of measures to redress the inequalities in the provision of public library and information services (LIS) and establishes essential norms and standards for the provision of LIS in South Africa. The Department conducted a socio-economic impact assessment for implementing the Bill. The Bill has been delayed due to the high costs associated with the norms and standards framework.

There is a total of 1 934 libraries nationally:
- Free State has three libraries behind schedule due to poor management of the project
- Gauteng Province has two libraries behind schedule due to outstanding Eskom bills, stolen electrical supply cables, no ICT connections, and constant vandalism.
- Limpopo has one library behind schedule due to Covid and tribalism contestations
- KwaZulu Natal has one library behind schedule due to community unrest.
- North West has one library behind schedule due to cash flow issues by contractors, vandalism, burglary, and theft.

Highlights
There are 238 newly built libraries, with 652 upgrades and 924 with free public internet access. These improvements have inculcated the culture of reading and writing.

Overall Challenges
- Infrastructure backlogs.
- Inadequate book collection in some public libraries.
- Poor quality of infrastructure projects.
- Increased dependency on the grant to fund staff and new projects.
- Lack of Norms and Standards in the LIS remains a challenge
- Vandalisation of libraries during community protests and theft

Flags in Schools
The Flag in Every School Project aims to equip all schools in the Education Management Information System (EMIS) database with the South African flag. This is part of the campaign to promote national identity and nation-building in the country. DSAC has the mandate to promote national symbols in schools and the country. It initiated the Flag in School Project in 2007, and since then, more than 25 241 flags and flagpoles have been installed in schools in an attempt to ensure that all schools in the country can fly flags.

Challenges
Due to exposure to natural elements such as rain, wind and sun, the flag cloth deteriorates over 24 months and needs to be replenished over time. DSAC currently has an annual target to supply 100 schools with new flags. The main needs of schools are the replenishment of the flag cloth. Theft in urban/ peri-urban areas is a challenge, particularly where aluminium and steel recycling is high. DSAC is entering into agreements with Provincial Departments of Education (DoE) to ensure the flags are issued systematically. In the first quarter, 33 flags were delivered through the Young Patriots programme. Due to the partnership with the Young Patriots Programme in various provinces, DSAC will reach more schools than initially planned for 2022/23.

Discussion
The Chairperson asked what the Young Patriots programme is, who it targets, and what value it adds. On the durability of the flag cloth being 24 months: how can the flag quality be improved? How are communities being involved in preventing theft and how are DSAC and DoE leading to ensure that they secure the work and assets of what they have acquired? In the Northern Cape, there are people who speak the Nama language, but the language is being lost as few people speak it in the current society. The Khoi and San languages are facing a similar, if not worse, plight. How is DSAC going to ensure that the survival of the language is not threatened? In the Western Cape, there were reports of inaccessible libraries for disabled people. How do we ensure libraries are accessible to those that are physically challenged?

Ms D Christians (DA, Northern Cape) said that the state of the libraries in the Northern Cape is concerning. A library site she visited in Barkley West, which is a fairly new facility, has been battling to be kept open as there are infrastructure issues from time to time. Alongside accessibility for the Barkley West community, the community complains about the constant closures. She requested DSAC follow up on that library for a workable solution. What programmes have been rolled out in the Khoi and San community of Plaatfontein near Kimberly for language preservation?

DSAC response
Dr Khumalo replied that the Young Patriots Programme falls under the out-of-school youth programmes, where young people from communities are being given a job opportunity (as run by NYDA) to improve their prospects with work experience and contribute towards social cohesion and nation building. The role of youth is to impart knowledge and educate learners on national symbols, where the patriots will work with a school to provide support for growing patriotism through different programmes. The young patriots adopt a school in their province to support and grow the patriotism of school-going learners. This youth support and job-creating programme is an initiative of the Department.

Ms Combrinck replied that the Department focuses on the Khoe language, where the Nama language forms part of that family group. On Nama, the focus is specifically on the Khoe language group and DSAC intends to move forward with other languages of that group. The work of the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) also has programmes in these languages.

On the general language preservation of the Khoi and Nama languages, DSAC's focus has been on developing the orthography of the languages and working with the universities in the areas to help develop the language. For instance, one of the human use technologies is based on the partnership with the University of Cape Town.

Another DSAC official added that in other projects on language preservation, there is a dictionary… (audio disrupted)

Mr Ndima replied that the flag material used is durable and approved by SABS. The cloth lasts about 24 months and costs about R250 - R300 per flag. Therefore, schools can manage such costs. Some schools hoist and maintain the flags efficiently. Therefore, the responsibility largely lies with schools in this regard. DSAC is currently working with the Department of Basic Education to ensure that schools do not rely on DSAC to maintain the flags.

On the theft of flag poles, an integrated approach must be employed to protect schools and security around the schools. Communities need to raise awareness of the importance of patriotism and national symbols.

Mr Vusumuzi Mkhize, Director-General, DSAC, noted that the issues raised on the platform were around the transformation programmes that DSAC has. He quoted former President Nelson Mandela stating, "Without language, one cannot talk and understand people, one cannot share their hopes and aspirations or grasp their history." He went on to say that language is a gateway to development because once developed and utilised, there should be an ability to create demand for languages in various disciplines spanning maths, science astronomy, etc. It is important for the South African people to have their languages developed to the highest level and fully utilised. In this light, DSAC initiatives are integrated towards transforming languages to make them accessible and scientifically utilised.

For language bursaries, DSAC currently provides funding of R250 000 per candidate per anum. The budget is R6 million per year, with DSAC utilising six universities (UCT, University of Fort Hare, University of Venda, University of Free State, University of the Western Cape, University of Witwatersrand). These are mainly to ensure there are language practitioners and skills that are required for language development.

There is a library grant to ensure the ability of partially sighted people to access libraries and information at large. DSAC has introduced a programme that all libraries are to have support for partially and visually impaired people. Where there is a need to do construction modifications for libraries that are inaccessible, there is a standard practice of incorporating access for people with disabilities.

Minister's remarks
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, highlighted that all DSAC's initiatives are research-based. The work of the South African Cultural Observatory is the research arm of DSAC. Currently, the work of the research arm is so prominent that the UN agencies - UNCTAD and UNESCO - acknowledge and quote the work done by DSAC. The UN agencies understand South Africa's approach is the way to go. Other countries are encouraged to follow South Africa's model by the UN. DSAC's mandate of transformation is based on science.

The Minister expressed his keenness in DSAC bringing heads together on aspects surrounding decoloniality. He noted how Limpopo, during the early days of democracy, was leading in transforming the heritage landscape in the country. He stressed that it could not be that a historically oppressed majority is a cultural minority in public spaces. There is a lot to be done in ensuring the constitutional values are the centre of work done by DSAC.

The Minister believes that there are still several issues to be wrestled by the Select Committee – cultural diplomacy remains an important issue, and South African cultural goods and services ought to be exported. Members of the Select Committee must know the main destinations for SA cultural goods and services .The US, Canada, and Mexico are huge importers of South African cultural goods. There is a long way to go and we hope to further share how DSAC works on this. Today's presentation has been but a fraction of what DSAC is doing.

Ms Christians stated that in the Northern Cape, Khoi, San and Nama the language are under threat and preservation is needed. These groups are largely marginalised in the Northern Cape and their languages are steadily phasing out. Fewer young people know or speak the Khoi and San languages. She expressed concern that the same fate may be awaiting the Afrikaans language and asked the Minister if Afrikaans should be included in the preservation of indigenous languages and policy so that it does not face the fate of the Nama and Khoi languages in the future.

Minister's response
Minister Mthethwa replied that through language, culture is communicated. The Khoi, San, and Nama languages and the people in the culture lived in many parts of the Republic. The issue of preservation goes beyond language. For instance, in the Khoi and San peoples' case, the South African government's coat of arms is inspired foremost by the indigenous people - Khoi and San. In 2021 Cabinet concluded the Khoi and San heritage routes, which trace about 19 points across the Republic, meaning there is no corner in SA where the Khoi and San never lived.

On decoloniality, when Gqeberha airport was renamed, Chief David Stuurman was the only Khoi leader that escaped Robben Island three times; this had to be a deliberate and urgent intervention in recognising the communities. These languages are near extinct and efforts need to be made to preserve and ensure the development of the Khoi and San.

With the current injunction of 11 official languages, two are advanced due to the research, development, and monuments built to ensure the languages are developed – Afrikaans and English are nowhere near extinct. For instance, the National English Museum in Makhanda concerns itself with matters of English where 80% of the population in the area are isiXhosa speakers and do not benefit from the institution. As a result, the government added (i) elements of isiXhosa and (ii) changed the name of the museum from National English Museum to Amazwi National Museum of Literature. This is because there needs to be sensitivity to the fact that there are languages that need to be further developed to ensure protection and development.

As such, the Minister expressed the view that he does not see the Afrikaans language being extinct and government supports it like all other languages. He further noted the developed capacity of Afrikaans compared to the other official languages to the exclusion of English.

The meeting was adjourned.