Question NW2480 to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
30 October 2020 - NW2480
Van Dyk, Ms V to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
(1) Whether the mandate of the task team on the removal of statues, symbols and monuments that do not reflect the constitutional values of a post-colonial and post-apartheid democratic order to theme parks has ended; if not; what is the position in this regard; if so, on what date; (2) (a) what total number of persons were on the task team and on what date were they appointed, (b) how was the selection made and what was the criteria, (c) how and by whom will future audits on the statues, monuments and symbols be done, (d) what budget allocation will be made available, (e) what total number of heritage sites in the Republic can sustain themselves and (f) who decided to use the name theme parks; (3) On what date will the final report be made available to the committee and the public and has the final report been made available to task team members; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (4) Whether the final report has been made available to task team members; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The mandate of the task team was to conduct public hearings in all nine provinces on the transformation of South Africa’s Heritage Landscape. The Task Team was specifically asked to consult the public on the fate of statues, symbols and geographical names that commemorated figures and the heritage of both colonial and apartheid figures and cultures. The Task Team was also requested to consult on the fate of statues, symbols and monuments that do not reflect the constitutional values of a post-colonial and post-apartheid democratic order.
2. (a)The total number of task team members was thirteen (13), they were nominated on 17 April 2015 at Freedom Park during the National Consultation workshop on the Transformation of the Heritage Landscape. I signed the letters of appointing task team members on 04 May 2015.
(b) The Task Team members were nominated during the National consultation workshop at Freedom Park. Members nominated are Heritage Practitioners, Academics specialising in history and heritage and persons representing stakeholder institutions and interest groups within the South African Society to assist the department to implement the 20 resolutions taken during the national consultative workshop. Prof M Ndletyane, Dr D Webb, Ms L Callinicos and Dr S Fikeni are historians and academics. Mr J Mohlala was chairperson on the South African Geographical Names Council, Dr A Bailey represented Afriforum, Mr E Fereira represented the Afrikaans KultuurTaalVereeneging, Mr C Le Fleur represented the National Khoisan Council and Mr C Maxwele represented the Rhodes Must Fall youth movement, Advocate S Mancotywa and Advocate T Ramagoma represented the National Heritage Council, MrDumisaniSibayi represented the South African Heritage Resources Agency and Mr V Ndima represented the then Department of Arts and Culture.
(c) The South African Heritage Resources Agency will do the national audit of all statues in South Africa and after public consultations a determination will be made where there is a need for the removal and repositioning of some of the symbols and statues, the process will be guided by SAHRA’s removal and relocation guidelines as per South Africa Heritage Resources Act no 25 of 1999.
(d) The affected municipalities will be required to allocate operational budget.
(e) Heritage sites in South Africa are funded by the government.
(f) The public consultation process will inform decisions on the location of theTheme Parks.
4. The final report on the Transformation of South Africa’s Heritage Landscape was published on 23 February 2018.