Question NW468 to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
04 March 2025 - NW468
Mthethwa, Mr E to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
(1). Whether he has put any plans in place to protect and revamp the (a) grave site of Chief Maqoma and (b) memorial site of Intaba kaNdoda in Dimbaza in Eastern Cape; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the plans. (2). whether he has any strategy in place to maximise access to the specified historic landmarks for purposes of heritage education and local tourism; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details. (3). whether he intends to enter into memoranda of understanding and/or agreements with the Department of (a) Tourism, (b) Public Works and Infrastructure, (c) Basic Education and (d) Higher Education to look into the infrastructure around the specified heritage sites and others similar to them, with an aim to attract more visitors to the sites and enhance their experience; if not, why not; if so, on what date does he intend to initiate the agreements?
Reply:
1(a). The Grave of Chief Njongumsobomvu Maqoma located at Intaba kaNdoda in Dimbaza has been declared a National Heritage Site by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. Through the SAHRA intervention, a fence was erected to prevent cattle from damaging the site. The site is managed by the Amahlathi Local Municipality.
(b). There are no plans in place to revamp the memorial site of Intaba kaNdoda.
(2). In implementing the Resistance, Liberation and Heritage Route Programme, Cabinet in 2021 included the Ministry of Transport in the Inter-Ministerial Committee responsible for the development of heritage sites that reflect the resistance and liberation struggle. The Ministry was included to lead and provide access to our landmarks for the purposes of heritage education and local tourism.
(3)(a). In 2023, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Tourism.
(b). The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has an overarching Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI). Through this Agreement, DPWI is obligated to maintain all government immovable properties, including heritage sites. The DPWI also forms part of the IMC that was established by Cabinet to oversee the implementation of the Resistance and Liberation Heritage Route Programme.
(c). The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Basic Education (DBE). This MoU aims to improve access to sports and cultural activities in schools as well as encouraging the inclusion of history as a compulsory subject in the school curriculum.
(d). The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture does not have a separate agreement with the Department of Higher Education and Training. However, Memoranda of Agreement are signed each year with Institutions of Higher Learning for the bursary programme, which aims to increase the pool of heritage practitioners in the country.
More than 50 bursary opportunities are provided each year to deserving students across all universities in the country.