Hansard: Approppriation Bill: Debate on Vote No 14 – Arts & Culture
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 02 May 2012
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Start of Day
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Thursday, 3 May 2012 Take: 410
Thursday, 03 May 2012
PROCEEDINGS OF THE EXTENDED PUBLIC COMMITTEE – CHAMBER OF THE OLD ASSEMBLY
Members of the Extended Public Committee met in Old Assembly Chamber at 16:49.
House Chairperson, Mr M B Skosana, as Chairperson, took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.
Debate on Vote No-14: ARTS AND CULTURE
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Thursday, 3 May 2012 Take: 410
Start of Day
APPROPRIATION BILL
Debate on Vote No 14- ARTS AND CULTURE:
The MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE (Mr S P Mashatile): Hon Chairperson of the session, the Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Dr Joe Phaahla, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture, hon Babalwa Sunduza, hon members of the portfolio committee, hon Members of Parliament, director-general Xaba and senior managers, chairpersons of our boards and councils, art, culture and heritage practitioners, business leaders here present, ladies and gentlemen, before I start, let me take this opportunity and bid farewell to our departed brother, former Minister Sicelo Shiceka. To his family and friends we say
IsiZulu:
...akwehlanga lungehlanga,...
English:
...may his soul rest in peace.
I am humbled by the opportunity to present the 2012-13 Budget Vote for the Department of Arts and Culture. We present our budget two days after the people of our country joined the rest of the world in celebrating Workers' Day. We will forever remember the heroism and sacrifices of the workers of our country. We recommit ourselves to the goal of defending the gains of the working people of our country, especially our cultural workers.
Hon members, just under a week ago, we marked the 18th anniversary of freedom and democracy, under the theme; "Working together to build unity and prosperity for all." On that important occasion we reflected on the progress we are making to build a nonracial destiny for all the people of South Africa; united in their diversity.
We also committed ourselves to continue building an economically prosperous society. The Department of Arts and Culture has declared the year 2012 as the year of heritage. In this regard we will intensify the work we are doing to preserve our country's cultural heritage; paying particular attention to our liberation heritage.
This year is also the year of the centenary of the oldest modern liberation movement in Africa, the African National Congress.
The Centenary of the African National Congress is part of our tangible heritage, which we must preserve for current and future generations. Over the past 18 years we have made significant progress in addressing the challenges of poverty and underdevelopment. However, many of our people in particular women, the youth and those in rural areas are still faced with these challenges on a daily basis. We are pleased to report that as part of our Mzansi Golden Economy Strategy, a number of high impact programmes targeting youth and women in the arts, have been identified. These include the Indoni, My Heritage My Pride programme which aims to provide young people with life skills training, education and encouragement in appreciating who they are, their heritage and their culture.
We are also implementing the Trendsetter Initiative, through which we encourage youth to participate in the arts, and thus contribute to the development of their communities. We have begun to implement the Public Art programme, through which we are skilling young people and employing them to beautify their communities using their artistic abilities. This year, we funded the Emerging Creatives Programme; providing an opportunity for 40 young designers to showcase their designs along side established designers at the Design Indaba in Cape Town.
Having declared the year 2012 as the year of heritage, we will continue to honour the heroes and heroines of our struggle for national liberation. We will also use heritage infrastructure development as catalysts for local economic development, job creation and nation-building. A total of 28 heritage projects have been identified for implementation during the current financial year. Working together with the Independent Development Trust, IDT, we have begun to implement our programme to refurbish the house of the former ANC President, OR Tambo, in Bizana. [Applause.] We are also building OR Tambo's statue; refurbishing the Garden of Remembrance and an interpretive centre in Kantolo. An access road linking Bizana to OR Tambo's homestead will also be built. An initial amount of R25 million has been set aside for this project. This project is expected to create 50 permanent jobs, as well as, 90 short, medium and occasional jobs.
We are proceeding with the development of the Ingquza Heritage Centre in Pondoland. This project includes the refurbishment of the Holy Cross Church in Ngquza Hill, where OR Tambo was a member; The Church will also be declared a heritage site. A total of R15 million has been set aside for this project. The project is expected to create 40 permanent jobs and 75 short, medium and occasional jobs.
The Waaihoek Church and the Maphikela House in Mangaung have also been declared heritage sites. In February, this year, we launched the John Langalibalele Dube Legacy Project in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal.
More than R60 million has been set aside for this project, which is expected to create 270 jobs. We will, in the coming months, open the Steve Biko Centre in Ginsberg, in the Eastern Cape. We have invested more than R170 million in this project, which to date has created 609 jobs. We have also declared the graves of Robert Sobukwe, Helen Joseph, Lillian Ngoyi and Charlote Maxeke as national heritage sites. In the coming months, the graves of Dr Beyers Naude, and Rahima Moosa will also be declared national heritage sites.
This year, we are celebrating the centenary of Alexandra Township and Sophiatown – now that is my hometown. Both these areas have a rich history of struggle and were vibrant hubs of cultural and artistic expression. We expect to officially open the Matola Monument and Interpretive Centre in Mozambique before the end of this year. We have invested R65 million towards this project; creating, in Matola alone, a total of 245 contract and 15 permanent jobs. Through this project we are strengthening the bonds of friendship and solidarity with the people of Mozambique. We will also work with the Department of Correctional Services to implement the Gallows Heritage Project.
Later this year, we will open the second phase of the Freedom Park Museum, Ixapo, to tell the South African story of precolonial times. Some of the work we are doing this year on heritage will form part of the Liberation Heritage Route.
In line with our commitment to nation-building and national healing we declared the Voortrekker Monument as a national heritage site.
We have also opened a road linking the Freedom Park to the Voortrekker Monument, symbolising a new era of cooperation between the two institutions. In order to restore the dignity of the San people and to promote national healing, we have repatriated the remains of Klaas and Trooi Pienaar from Austria where they were illegally and criminally taken to, for so called research purposes.
A decent reburial of Klass and Trooi Pienaar will be held later this year. We are well on track with the establishment of the Sarah Baartman Centre of Remembrance. We are investing R168 million towards this project. The project is envisaged to create 230 contract jobs and 45 permanent jobs.
The creative economy is now at the centre of the international economic and development agenda. We too, in South Africa, have for some time now placed the creative economy at the centre of our endeavour to grow the economy, create jobs and build sustainable livelihoods. It is for this reason that through the Mzansi Golden economy Strategy we have identified key policy interventions that will support the growth and development of the creative economy.
We are, therefore, pleased to announce that our Mzansi Golden Economy Strategy has been endorsed by National Treasury.
The Mzansi Golden Economy seeks to enhance our sector's contribution to the national effort to create 5 million jobs within the next ten years. Specifically, through our Public Art Programme and the establishment of the Art Bank we will create 10 000 new work opportunities over the next three years.
We piloted the concept of a sourcing enterprise during Cop 17, resulting in the creation of more than 8 000 direct work days over a two week period. As part of audience development we are piloting five cultural precincts and information centres in five major cities. Through this initiative we anticipate a baseline target of more than 2 000 new work opportunities, expected to grow significantly over the next three years. Targeted support will be provided to 26 major cultural events every year across the country, generating a baseline target of more than 2 000 work opportunities per event.
A recreational underwater museum in Kosi Bay will be developed.
The museum is expected to boost adventure and cultural tourism in the West Coast. Working together with the Department of Basic Education we are making progress in bringing back arts education in schools. [Applause.] Through this intervention we are targeting 3 000 new work opportunities over the next three years. We are also making steady progress towards the establishment of the National Skills Academy for the arts. We will work with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development towards the establishment of a cultural observatory, to collect and analyse data within our sector.
Hon members, funding for film production has increased, equally, the support for documentary production has increased in 2009 and 2011. For every documentary film produced with a budget of R500 000, we create, at least, 10 direct jobs. It is against this background that we will continue to increase funding for film and television productions. We will also create access to local film and video products, increase the volume of film production and provide training and skills development opportunities. Our long term vision is to establish a National Film Commission and streamline film funding through a Film Fund.
Chairperson, in order to strengthen the local music industry and to build sustainable livelihoods for local musicians, we facilitated a cooperation agreement between the Association of Independent Record Companies and the South African Broadcasting Corporation, SABC.
This agreement will increase local music content in the public broadcaster and ensure needle time for the creators of content. [Applause.] We are also working with the music industry, the Department of Trade and Industry, DTI, and law enforcement agencies to strengthen the fight against music piracy.
In the month of May, we will celebrate Africa Day. Working together with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Dirco, we will ensure the successful hosting of Africa Day celebrations. In line with our commitment to building a Better Africa and a Better World, we continue to be active on the international front. This we are doing in order to promote our culture in other parts of the world and to grow the local creative and cultural industries.
In this regard, we have signed cultural agreements and programmes of cooperation with Spain, Argentina, the State of Palestine and Angola. We also signed a film coproduction treaty with New Zealand.
We are reviewing our cultural agreements with the United Kingdom and the United States of America, with a view to further strength those relations.
During the Cannes Film Festival, this year, we will sign a film treaty with the Republic of Ireland. In September, this year, the government of the State of Qatar will host a South Africa Week in Doha. During this period, we will also sign a cultural agreement with the State of Qatar. We expect Cabinet to soon ratify the African Charter on Cultural Renaissance. This Charter will allow us to strengthen the work done by the African Union on the cultural front.
In June, this year, we will host the South African leg of the 2012-13 South Africa-French Season. The season is aimed at showcasing our cultures and strengthening cultural cooperation between our two countries. South Africa will, this year, host the African Chapter of the UNESCO Conference on World Heritage. The conference will give us an opportunity to develop a shared African perspective on the link between development and the preservation of current and envisaged world heritage sites.
Next year, South Africa will once again participate in the prestigious Venice Biennale. We are in a process of securing permanent space in the Biennale for South Africa. This will give certainty of our intention to continue exporting our creative goods into major international markets. As part of the work we are doing since signing a cultural agreement with Jamaica last year, we will this year participate in the 50th anniversary of the independence of Jamaica. We will use that occasion to showcase our culture to the people of Jamaica, with whom we share strong bonds of friendship and solidarity.
In conclusion, hon members, we are putting together a team of senior managers that will ensure the effective implementation of our programmes. We are confident that the goals we have set for ourselves, working together with you, will be realised. Our ultimate objective is to create better conditions for the production, distribution and consumption of the arts, culture and heritage; so that it yields better and greater economic and social benefits for all. Thank you.
Ms T B SUNDUZA LIM... / END OF TAKE
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Thursday, 3 May 2012 Takes: 411 & 412
"Old Assembly Main",Unrevised Hansard,03 May 2012,"[Take-333333411] [Old Assembly Main][90P-4-082A][gs].doc"
The MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE
Ms T B SUNDUZA: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister, hon Members of Parliament and distinguished guests, ...
IsiXhosa:
... mholweni ndiyanibulisa. Le ntombi iphambi kwenu LiHlubikazi, uRholeni, uMazibuko, uMlambo, uMwelase, uXhakaza, ndicela nindiphe iindlebe zenu.
English:
Hon Chairperson, we meet during workers month and I, therefore, would like to salute all workers who vigorously fought for their labour rights from the slavery period through to the apartheid era until the war was won, culminating in labour rights as enshrined in the Constitution. What united these workers was music, slogans and dance.
IsiXhosa:
Ndiyanikhahlela basebenzi.
English:
I will start by saying that the ANC supports this Budget Vote. Why? because the ANC is doing the will of the people based on the Freedom Charter, which is the guiding document of the liberation movement; a document that led to a united South Africa; a document that paved a way for our Constitution today. Recently, even opposition members are quoting it. I hereby affirm the Freedom Charter as a premise of discussing social transformation.
South Africa belongs to all who live in it. Government can justly reclaim authority, unless it is based on the will of the people. The ANC is governing based on the will of the people. Today, I've got my stick and I'm going to beat somebody who is disturbing [Laughter.]
We were robbed of our birth rights as Africans. We suffered injustice and inequality and we will never be ashamed of it. The Department of Arts and Culture has a mandate to restore our dignity, pride and unify all races, cultural groups promote our languages, until we reached a stage where all languages are equal.
Further, the department has an obligation to promote our history through heritage promotion and the national liberation route. I want to salute and honour all heroes and heroines of the struggle who took part in the frontier wars against African Kingdoms and who fought with spears against gunpowder. I talk of Cetywayo, Sikhukhune, Hintsa, Sandile, Bhambatha and others. [Interjections.]
I stand before this House just five days after we celebrated 18 years of freedom; freedom from more than 300 years of colonialism and more that four decades of apartheid rule.
Afrikaans:
[Tussenwerpsels.]
Luister hier!
Dit is 'n feit, dat toe die ANC as regering ingestem was, die meederheid van die bevolking beperkte of geen toegang tot nasionale erfenis terreine, nasionale argiewe en biblioteekdienste gehad het nie.
Dit is waar dat die viering van nasionale dae en ander kulturele gebeurlikhede in silos, langs die kleurlyn, plaasgevind het.
Dit is ook absoluut waar dat slegs twee tale – uit die vele wat ons in die land het – gebruik was vir amptelike kommunikasie en regeringsdoeleindes, ten spyte van die feit dat dit die tale was wat die minste in die land gebesig was. Dit was die tipe kuns en kultuur sektor wat die ANC geërf het toe ons in 1994 die regering oorgeneem het.
IsiXhosa:
Nindive kakuhle? [Kwaqhwatywa.]
English:
Today, all citizens have constitutionally guaranteed cultural rights. The arts and culture sector has undergone some major transformational changes since 1994. As a matter of fact, the arts and culture sector has become an active contributor to the country's economic development drive. Job creation is indeed a central point of priority in the ANC government. Over the past five years, the sector managed to create about 150 jobs, thus making a significant contribution to the country's gross domestic product, GDP.
For the purpose of this debate, my focus will be on programmes three and five, National Language Services and heritage promotion. The purpose of National Language Service programme is to promote the official languages of South Africa and enhance the linguistic diversity of our country. You will agree with me, hon chairperson, that despite the fact that we have 11 official languages, as per the Constitution, a fair and equitable use of these languages is still a challenge. This is attested by ongoing process to finalise the promulgation of the South African Languages Bill. This is one of the key functions which the allocation of the National Language Services programme must cater for during this financial year.
It is important to note that the programme's expenditure grew from R92 million, and is still growing at an average of 2,7%.Over the medium-term. It is expected to grow to R137 million, at an increased average of 9,8%, largely because R41 million allocated to PanSALB address its operational shortfalls.
IsiXhosa:
Uyabona ke Mphathiswa, ndicela undive kakuhle kulo umba kwaye undimamelisise.
English:
PanSALB's mandate is derived from the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa; but the people tasked with the management of PanSALB are failing the will of the people of South Africa. We have been vocal about this matter. PanSALB has been experiencing some worrying operational challenges, for some time now. Instead of carrying the Constitutional mandate, the institution has became a camp of tug of war.
IsiXhosa:
Kuyaliwa yi ...
English:
... battlefield and the taxpayer's money is used to fight court cases left, right and centre.
IsiXhosa:
Mamela ke, Mphathiswa, asijiki ke kule.
English:
The portfolio committee took a united decision that no money must be given to PanSALB, except for overheads and salaries while the department plays an administration role, until they respect the will of the people of South Africa, you know ...
IsiXhosa:
... asijiki.
English:
PanSALB must put its house in order as things stand, there will be no money transferred to PanSALB.
IsiXhosa:
Usimamele ke Mphathiswa kuba siyikomoti ejongene nesebe, siyakuxelela kwaye mna nawe masingaxatyaniswa ngu-PanSALB.
English:
It is as simple as that. We have noted the use of consultants by the Department of Arts and Culture. The sooner the department recruits, trains and develops its own skills base, the better for all of us because consultants are closing job creation. We understand that there are scarce skills in South Africa but the use of consultants...
IsiXhosa:
... hayi, makhe yehle mani kancinci.
English:
The purpose of the heritage promotion is to preserve, protect and promote South Africa's cultural heritage through socioeconomic development, social cohesion and national identity; to improve the effective management of the heritage sector and to promote South Africa's cultural heritage and symbols. Over the medium term, expenditure for the programme is expected to increase to R88, million at an annual rate of 4,9% due to increased transfers to heritage institutions for operation and increased capital works
Through the national liberation heritage route which is spearheaded by the national heritage council, significant historical account of events, places, epochs, individuals and communities will be recorded for the posterity and for transformation and transmission to succeed generations in our society.
In addition, the contribution made by heroes and heroines of the struggle for freedom, the ANC has embarked on a legacy project that seeks to upgrade and declare all the national heritage sites through some significant homes, houses, graves as well as memorial sites. This is what we call preserving our heritage for generations to come. We hereby support these problems, as they speak about our heroes and our struggle to teach generations to come.
IsiXhosa:
Siyabulela mfo kamaNgcotywa; uyibambe njalo.
English:
We speak about history, not only from apartheid but from frontier wars, as I have spoken about the tribes
We must not be held ransom when we want to transform names and towns and street speaking of geographical names. We can't be living in. When you drive, you would pass through Kaffirskop or Boesmansgat. So, the programme of national heritage to change geographical names let it ... [Interjections.]
Afrikaans:
Nee! Maak jou mond toe! [Gelag.] Ek is nie seker of dit die gat is wat ...[Onhoorbaar.]
English:
So, I'm saying it's...
Afrikaans:
... Boesmansgat. Ek is nie seker of dit die gat is wat... [Onhoorbaar.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: Order! Order, please.
English:
Ms T B SUNDUZA: With regard to the heritage, let's talk about our music as well. Let us leave live music to liberate us. We were united through music; let our music be part of heritage. We had Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens, Miriam Makeba, Jabu and may others.
The Freedom Charter states clearly that all national groups shall be protected by the law against insults to their race and national pride, colour or discrimination shall be a punishable crime; as it is stated also in the ANC Youth League's 1948 basic documents on cultural policy ...
IsiXhosa:
Ndakuqhekeza wena vala umlomo.[Kwahlekwa.]
English:
...more identity, it speaks of national liberation of identity and the beauty phase; it speaks about languages.
When you want to destroy a nation, you must start by destroying the language. When you do that you destroy the identity, pride and heritage of that nation. That's what the apartheid government did to black Africans. We support the SA Languages Bill and urge the department to heed the call and get the legislation process underway.
I want to say today that we will never ever destroy Afrikaans. I want you to listen very carefully, hon Van den Berg and where is FF Plus? They are not here. We will never destroy Afrikaans or any language for whatever reason. If we do that we will be insulting the wisdom of the ancestors who fought for the Freedom Charter, who drafted it for a united South Africa. Afrikaans is one of the official languages, as per the Constitution, and we, as the ANC, cannot go against our own victory. [Applause.]
However, it is very critical for people to understand that we still need to promote all our official languages, especially people like those racist school governing bodies that do not want to transform and are still locked in the past, frustrating African children, like in the recent case in East London. I, therefore, appeal to the Minister and the department to strengthen its memorandum of understanding with the Department of Basic Education on the issue of languages, so that we can have our own isiXhosa, Xitsonga, Tshivenda medium schools.
Our African children are not enjoying their rights as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic. They are forced to speak English and Afrikaans even during lunch breaks by teachers who say it's a school rule because it's English or an Afrikaans medium school. Even parents are forced to speak English at home because children must speak good English for it is good for their brains. That is absolute nonsense.
It is worth indicating that Arts and Culture has gone beyond the stage of being generally viewed as only being concerned about entertainment and heritage matters. Today Arts and Culture plays a role in cultural tourism. It plays a central role in stimulating the world's economy. It is estimated that 15% to 35% of all South African tourists visit for cultural purposes. For South Africa to improve this figure, it has to ensure that strategies are put in place for the new Mzansi Golden Economy, and that it is supported, as well as other projects to massively increase cultural tourism in the country.
While South African has taken major strides in ensuring that our arts and culture contribute to the country's economic development, the government of Italy spent over 7 billion in Euros just for arts and culture in 2011, which translated to 34% of share spending, contributing to 1% of total jobs in that country. Whereas Italy has 44 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, Unesco, World Heritage Sites compared to South Africa, which has only eight, through the legacy project the number of national heritage sites will be increased.
The challenge for government would then be to market these heritage sites, both locally and internationally and raise their statuses in order to ensure that they meet the Unesco requirements for recognition as world heritage sites. Once that is achieved, South Africa will have a chance to attract more tourists into the country, and thus, contribute to economic development and job creation.
I want to conclude by quoting the great Mahatma Ghandi who once said, "A nation's culture resides..."
IsiXhosa:
Musa ukuveza ubuqaba phakathi kwabantu. Kukho abantu phaya kwaye bakujongile. Musa ukusihlaza apha.
English:
"A nation's culture resides in the heart and soul of its people."
As I said earlier, I want to thank the portfolio committee members, my parents, Vera, Faith, Hlengani, Thobani and Johnny. I also want to salute our own cultural artist, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, for winning an award at Unesco. She's an African woman who kept us in song during apartheid.
I would like to say...
IsiXhosa:
... kumfo wakwaShiceka, eMampondweni, eNgquza, ulale ngoxolo mfo uyidlalile indima yakho. Ndiyabulela.
English:
As I said, the ANC supports the Budget Vote. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mnr N J VAN DEN BERG / Nb (Eng&Xh)/ /TH (Afr)//nvs(Afr) & UNH/END OF TAKE
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Thursday, 3 May 2012 Takes: 412 & 413
Ms T B SUNDUZA
Afrikaans:
Mnr N J VAN DEN BERG: Voorsitter, ek wil darem net vir die voorsitter van ons komitee, die agb Sunduza, sê dat sy vandag regtig baie mooi lyk in haar rok. [Gelag.] Ek wens ek was nog 'n jong man.
Voorsitter, nou, 18 jaar van die viering van vryheid in ons land, is die uitdaging om ons demokrasie in stand te hou net so groot of dalk groter. Kuns en kultuur is die senuweesentrum van al die mense in ons land in hul kleurryke, veeltalige verskeidenheid. Baie dankie vir die geleentheid om te kan praat in die Parlement van die Republiek van die Suid-Afrika, 'n demokratiese Parlement. Die werk wat die department doen is veel belangriker as wat ons ooit kan dink. Kuns en kultuur is 'n abstrakte "iets", maar tog ook nie.
Al is ek en jy gebore Suid-Afrikaners sê die boodskap wat die Departement van Kuns en Kultuur uitstraal of my en jou hart welkom is in Suid-Afrika. Dink hier aan name, taal, kultuur-uitlewing en dies meer. Wat belangrik is, is die bou van 'n gesamentlike toekoms wat ons moet deel, in teenstelling met 'n verdeelde, verbrokkelde verlede. Ons moet harder werk om almal te laat inkoop in verandering. Ons moet aanvaar dat die toekoms dinge gaan verander. Ontwikkeling is in wese verandering. Suid-Afrika het nou na 18 jaar stemreg. Die DA stem saam dat name verander word sodat almal deel is van die toekoms. Dit is baie belangrik, en ek stem met die agb Sunduza saam – hierdie name wat mense se harte seer maak, pas nie in die nuwe Suid-Afrika waarin ons almal moet inkoop nie. Ek dink ons moet dit eenkant skuif; dit is nie meer onderhandelbaar nie. Ek dink ons stem daaroor 100% saam. [Applous.]
Die geskiedenis van die land moet baie deeglik gerespekteer word. Dit gaan nie net hier oor net die Afrikaanse name nie, maar oor meer as dit. Prosesse moet deeglik gevolg word wanneer die historiese belangrikheid van name beoordeel word. Daar is baie belangrike historiese name wat gebruik word in straatname en dies meer. Ons moet baie fyn kyk sodat ons nie 'n deel van ons wonderlike geskiedenis sommer net weggooi ter wille van verandering nie. Wat baie belangrik is, is dat nasiebou en versoening sentraal in hierdie hele proses moet staan. Wat belangrik is – en die Minister het baie gepraat oor die erfenisterreine en so aan – dis baie belangrik dat dit gebeur, maar ek vra die departement om net hierdie nuwe erfenisgebiede te bemark sodat wanneer iemand deur die land ry, hy sal weet dat daar 'n wonderlike museum in Oos-Londen is. Hy moet die straatadres ken, en op hierdie wyse kan ons mekaar se geskiedenis, ons erfenisverlede, leer ken, want ons ken nie mekaar se verlede in hierdie land nie. In ons komitee hoor ek name oor wie ek moet vra watter rol die persoon in ons land gespeel het. Daar is ook baie ander name wat sommer eenkant geskuif word, en daardie mense het vir die opbou en die totstandkoming van Suid-Afrika baie beteken. Ons moenie net name weggooi omdat ons op daardie stadium so voel nie.
English:
The vision of this Department of Arts and Culture states clearly that it is a sector that contributes significantly to social cohesion, nation-building and economic empowerment.
Afrikaans:
Die DA se parlementêre leier, die agb Lindiwe Mazibuko, het haar dikwels uitgespreek dat die Parlement weer sentraal moet staan in al ons werk, dat die Ministers die Parlement met groter agting sal bejeën.
English:
Chairperson, through you, I ask the Minister, formerly, to attend the meetings of the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture; please. We don't see him or his Deputy. Please, we want to see you there. The Director-General of Arts and Culture is not in charge of your department, you are, sir. Please, let me see you in future. This happens at a time when we are discussing the use of the SA Languages Bill.
Afrikaans:
Ek wil nie dool in die verlede nie. Ons kon al baie verder wees, Minister, as u net daar was. As woordvoerder oor kuns en kultuur, wil ek dit baie beslis herbeklemtoon: Die DA veg vir elke taal in hierdie land. Ek wil daar by die agb Sunduza aansluit. Al ons tale in Suid-Afrika is vir ons belangrik. Die een is nie belangriker as die ander nie. Ek stem 100% saam dat sekere tale in ons land in die verlede eenkant toe geskuif is vanweë die feit dat dit 'n beleid was van die apartheidsregering dat Afrikaans en Engels voorrang moes geniet. As ons die toekoms ingaan, moet ons baie deeglik – ons het daaroor gepraat in ons komiteevergaderings – as ons kyk na daardie tale wat 'n minimumvereiste is, moet ons kyk na die maksimum wat ons kan akkommodeer, byvoorbeeld vier tale. Hierdie ding wat ingesluit is in die wysigingswetsontwerp dat voorheen benadeelde tale bevoordeel moet word, kan weer beteken dat tale wat voorheen 'n gelyke soort van beregtiging gehad het eenkant toe geskuif word.
Ek sê spesifiek dat dit nie hier net oor Afrikaans gaan nie. Ons weet daar is tale in Limpopo wat deur min mense gepraat word, en ek het ook aan die komitee gesê, en agb Sunduza sal met my saamstem, dat ons nie daar kan sit as 'n komitee, as deel van die Parlement van Suid-Afrika, en dinge besluit oor die toekoms wat ons kinders en kleinkinders gaan benadeel nie. Ons moet 'n ding skep wat almal gelukkig sal maak. Daarom is dit vir my so belangrik dat ons wie hier sit, alhoewel ons 'n verdeelde verlede het, 'n toekoms moet bou. Die vierde Parlement moet help om dit te bou, sodat ons almal saam die toekoms kan instap, dat ons almal gelukkig en tevrede kan wees in die land waar ons geplaas is.
Dit is baie belangrik dat 'n taalombudsman aangestel moet word. Die Pan-Suid-Afrikaanse Taalraad, Pansat, kan dit bloot nie doen nie. Die komitee het sy kommer uitgespreek oor die wanfunksionele stand van die Pan-Suid-Afrikaanse Taalraad – dit terwyl die raad steeds geld wil hê. Daar is al daaroor gepraat, maar ek dink oor die taal stem ons saam - ons moet almal laat inkoop. Geen taal moet voel dat hy eenkant geskuif word nie. Dan doen ons ons demokratiese plig in hierdie Parlement nie korrek nie.
English:
The Constitution sets us the ideal of ubuntu – that a person is made a person through their relationships with other people. Language is central to this experience. The DA believes that a language Act will provide us with the means to promote the tenets of ubuntu. The Act would facilitate social cohesion and unite us in our diversity. For a language is far more than a tool of communication – it is a bridge that can connect us.
A language Act would also provide many practical gains. We can think here about job creation – and I do not want to go further into that.
Now I have to touch on – oh, welcome to the new Chairperson [Laughter.] – the Venice Biennale. After 17 years away from the scene, South Africa was fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in the Venice Biennale, a contemporary art exhibition that takes place every second year. The project raked up a budget of R14,1 million, R10 million of which was financed by the Department of Arts and Culture, DAC. It is still unclear how the remaining R4,1 million was funded.
A web of suspicious connections was at the forefront of this event. The commissioner, Monna Mokoena, appointed Thembinkosi Goniwe to curate the South African pavilion at the Venice Biennale. Then, Goniwe curated two of the four selected artists onto the exhibition, both from Mr Monna Mokoena's stable of artists. Ha, ha! I wonder. [Interjections.] This resulted in an outcry from the arts community, and a string of unanswered questions remains. It is thus understandable that stakeholders have questioned the "opaque" details and the "secrecy and lack of information" related to the event. The Minister's reply, however, raises more questions than it answers. I am sorry, sir, it is true.
Events like the Venice Biennale are unique opportunities to showcase South Africa's vibrant and diverse cultural scene and to create a platform for emerging artists. Our participation in the Venice Biennale appears to have been manipulated to line the pockets of connected individuals. The Minister has to shed light on what continues to be the very murky circumstances surrounding this event.
Regarding administration – and I am going to say it quietly – I was shocked to discover that the Director-General of the DAC revealed that this department will squander R46 million on consultants in this coming financial year. I cannot comprehend how this figure can be justified. I know there is a shortage of specialised skills, but Minister, if you need people to help you, ask me. I know a lot! [Laughter.] Please come and ask me. I will do it for free! The department has a total budget of R209,7 million, with R46,7 million to be squandered on consultants.
Regarding the National Arts Council of South Africa, I have my doubts. Established in 2005, the South African Youth Choir is one of the most exciting choral projects in the world today. It brings together exceptionally talented young singers from all over our beautiful and diverse country, giving them the opportunity to excel on an artistic and scholastic level. The choir members are committed to artistic excellence. Many members come from disadvantaged areas and many are orphans. They are the raw talent of South Africa. The choir offers them a voice and hope. They dare to dream.
I learnt with great despair that this group is just days away from financial ruin. The choir has applied on multiple occasions for financial assistance from government and from the National Lottery, without any success. The Department of Arts and Culture has a social responsibility to support and nurture an undeniably "proudly South African" export product. It has on more than one occasion won international competitions.
Similarly, South Africa's professional dance companies are facing an uncertain future after their triennial funding from the National Arts Council of South Africa stopped abruptly last month.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr J D Thibedi): As has your time, hon member. Thank you.
Mr N J VAN DEN BERG: I have got 12 minutes.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr J D Thibedi): Hon member, I am going by the Table staff, and your time has expired.
Mr N J VAN DEN BERG: They provided more time for me, Sir. [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr J D Thibedi): Thank you. I now call on the hon P Ntshiqela to address the House.
Mr P NTSHIQELA / /Mia (Afr)/UNH (Eng & Xh) & Robyn /END OF TAKE
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Thursday, 3 May 2012 Takes: 413 & 414
Mr N J J VAN DEN BERG)
Mr P NTSHIQELA: Hon Chairperson, the Minister and Deputy Minister, hon Members of Parliament, traditional leaders, guests and civil society leadership, ...
IsiXhosa:
... ndiyanibulisa. Nibahle nonke. Mna ke nginduDlangamandla, uMchenge, uNgonyama Nkomo, uHlalukana, Umjongi, uVumba leMpongo liyanuka. Ndihleli nje ndingowaseDutywa kwaye andinayo inkosikazi kodwa ndinabantwana abali-17 [Kwahlekwa.] [Kwaqhwatywa.]
Mhlekazi, uhlahlo-lwabiwo-mali lwakho siluvile kwaye siza kuthetha ngayo ngoku nangexesha elizayo
English:
A budget of this nature is developed every year to enable those who are supposed to get their hands dirty to implement programmes meant to uplift the standards of citizens ...
IsiXhosa:
Andikhumshi ndiya hamba namhlanje.
English:
... address the imbalances of the past, promote people's culture and change the lives of needy communities.
To be able to meet challenges faced by the department and sector at large, this budget must address the song that the Department of Arts and Culture sings every day, "financial constraints and a lack of capacity". By doing so, you are decreasing huge amounts of public funds used to hire consultants that are continuously milking and milking the department unnecessarily. You are creating jobs for more people and using public funds profitable for the benefit of many citizens.
The monitoring and evaluation system should be strengthened. I have no confidence in the current system. For this department to be kept performing well enough, this system must be kept alive and functional, and always be regarded as a cornerstone of department accountability for good governance. It should not only be for internal purposes, but should apply to and be used as a tool to monitor all institutions supported by the Department of Arts and Culture. You cannot be a beggar and a chooser. These institutions must be made to understand that they report directly to this department and therefore should toe the line.
I find it very strange sometimes when hearing some of them publicly announcing that they are not accountable to the department. Surprisingly, when they want funds, they know how to knock at the door of the department. [Interjections.] The department then decides to give them the funds they need – to do what? To enrich themselves, entertain themselves, or take each other to court and hire very expensive attorneys with taxpayers' money! We cannot be found financing court cases unnecessarily. This is not their mandate. [Interjections.]
IsiXhosa:
Benditshilo ukuba ndiza kunixelela namhlanje. [Kwahlekwa.]
English:
The good work shown by some other institutions, such as the Robben Island Museum, is an indication that it can be done, and we can do it correctly. [Applause.] This museum was in trouble previously, but today there is great progress.
Of course I do have reservations about worker's rights that are violated in this museum. Cope is watching this attitude with a close eye, ...[Applause.] ... especially when it comes to those who discharge the duty of tour guides such as Mr Thulani Mabasa, who was imprisoned in Robin Island for years, and got no appreciation for the good work he did, no medical aid to cure . . .
IsiXhosa:
... izivubeko zokutywatyushwa zii-arhente zocalucalulo nokulala esamenteni iminyaka.
English:
At the same time, these comrades that suffered with him enjoy fruit of freedom and democracy that he fought for. It can not be correct that such people who made us proud today are thrown in the dust bin or left lonely in the cold. What kind of a society are we?
Many of them are dumped in the townships, and left stranded and poor than ever. They have families, kids and dependants to take care of, but what can they do? They reported their situation to many leaders in power, to at least be given some kind of a job for a living. The answer is a yes, yes situation, their matter is receiving attention. I believe this department can do something better for these heroes, not just to talk and beautify their graves when they are no more.
Cope wants to see the young people being empowered as tour guides, but provision for experienced older people should be put in place. When publishing a notice of intent to declare as national heritage sites, the graves of JL Dube, SM Makgatho, AJM Luthuli,...
IsiXhosa:
... I-ANC mayingakhethi amaphela emasini.Mayifake amagama angawe-Cope .... [Laphela ixesha.]
Ngaloo magama siyaluxhasa olu hlahlo-lwabiwo-mali.[Kwaqhwatywa.]
Mrs H S MSWELI /Robyn – Eng & Afr/ nb(Xh)/ & EKS/LMM/ END OF TAKE
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Thursday, 3 May 2012 Take: 414
Mr P NTSHIQELA
Mrs H S MSWELI: Hon Chairperson, South African culture always conjures up an image of many independent tributaries flowing into a large river. The river is mighty and strong, but only because of the compounded support it receives from its many streams. Our different cultures are these streams. Their flows must be encouraged and not stymied.
The upcoming Language Bill must promote, rather than restrict languages. Afrikaans, Hindu, Indonesian and Hebrew, are said to be possibly the only languages that during the course of the twentieth century were standardised, and came to be used in all branches of life and learning, including in both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, and in science and technology.
In 1994, the sociologist, Lawrence Schemmer, concluded that, Afrikaans, though spoken as a first language by only 6 million people, forming 15% of the population, was the strongest language in South Africa, in the way it was used, formally and informally. If this is the case, why are we so intent on restricting it or any of our indigenous languages by this bill for that matter?
Investing in culture is paramount to the education and uplifting of our communities. Hereto, an ethos of cultural relativism should prevail, as we are a diverse cultural nation with many different traditions and cultures. Traditional, indigenous as well as international and classical literature should be taught within our school system. Classical literature remains a wealth of knowledge, and our learners should have the benefits thereof. Our libraries should be easily accessible and well stocked with relevant literature.
Legacy projects which serve to commemorate and honour the rich tapestry of South African history, must continue being supported by the department. The department must however guard against preferring one particular and subjective interpretation of history over the actual truth of past events. The legacy projects must be chosen in an equal and unbiased manner, a manner which affords all of our past struggles, heroes and heroines, an equal place under the sun.
Cultural tourism must be promoted. It should not become a lost opportunity. Our rural areas contain a wealth of traditions, and can showcase them through various rituals, festivals, values and lifestyles. We must encourage and assist new business initiatives that have the goal of promoting cultural tourism.
South African theatre and music scene is thriving, but it must be made more accessible to our learners and citizens living in our rural communities.
In conclusion, culture is social, and it develops as a product of society. It is shared, learnt, transmissive, continuous and cumulative, varied, dynamic and gratifying. Culture is powerful, yet fragile.
Some say, it is in a continuous state of change and easily lost because it exists only in our minds. It is therefore also definitive, defining who we are as people, and as such, it must be protected and cherished by all who share it, and we as government have a solemn duty to do that. Let us not falter in doing our duty. We therefore support the budget vote. Thank you. [Applause]
Mr N M KGANYAGO
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Thursday, 3 May 2012 Takes: 414 & 415
Mrs H S MSWELI
Mr N M KGANYAGO: Chairperson, Minister and Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, hon members, I greet you.
The UDM supports the Budget Vote [Applause.] Arts and Culture is at the core of nation-building. Nation-building is a difficult task that helps us to collectively determine the kind of South Africa we seek to become. The dividends of the investments we make in Arts and Culture, today and tomorrow, usually come in the form of increased social cohesion.
Sepedi:
Ka Sepedi sa gešo re re tau tša hloka seboka di šitwa ke nare e hlotša. Ke re e hlotša!
English:
If we don't work together, we will not be able to achieve what we want to achieve. This social cohesion will remain a dream. We must work together to achieve this.
We are astutely aware of the fact that the Arts and Culture Budget Vote gets only a small share of the overall National Budget because we have so many other pressing socioeconomic challenges. We therefore, do not expect the department to perform miracles. All that our people expect to get is value for money.
For many years, the United Democratic Movement has complained not only about the poor state of public libraries in many peri-urban areas, but also about the severe shortage of public libraries in far-flung deep rural areas, with no success. Not only are public libraries a scarce commodity in rural areas, the few under-resourced public libraries we have severely lack indigenous language material.
If you go into early library; you'll not even get a newspaper in an indigenous language, just an ordinary newspaper, simple newspaper not a book a newspaper that you can write when you are bored with other things. You can write the newspaper and put it in the library. We don't have newspapers in our libraries. This is a serious matter. We have to consider bringing material in indigenous languages to our people. It is worse in the rural areas. There are no books, no newspapers, is a serious in your bad situation.
A large amount of qualitative evidence points to an impending mass extinction of languages.... [Time expired.]
Thank you very much for the short time that you have given me. [Applause.] [Laughter.]
Mr D W MAVUNDA / E.K.S.(Eng)/Nb(Xh) & NN/ END OF TAKE
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Thursday, 3 May 2012 Takes: 415 & 416
Mr N M KGANYAGO
Xitsonga:
Nkul D W MAVUNDA: Mutshamaxitulu na Yindlu ya wena leyo hlonipheka, Holobye wa Ndzawulo ya Vutshila na Ndhavuko na Xandla xa wena, Nhloko ya Ndzawulo na vapfuni va wena hinkwavo, ndzi khensa nkarhi lowu ndzi nga nyikiwa wona sweswi. Ndzi lava ku burisana na n'wina hi timhaka ta nhlohlotelo wa swa vutshila na ndhavuko leswi khumbaka timhaka ta matimu ya tiko ra hina na hina vanhu va rona.
Timhaka ta ndhavuko ti khumba timhaka ta nkoka swinene eka rixaka rin'wana na rin'wana laha tikweni ra hina ra Afrika-Dzonga; ti khumba matimu ya hina ni lomu hi tumbulukaka kona, matikhomelo na mitolovelo ya hina eku hanyeni ka hina ka masiku hinkwawo, na ririmi leri hi vulavulaka rona tani hi rixaka rero.
Swi na nkoka ku hoyozela mfumo lowu wa hina wa xidemokirasi loko wu
khutaza na ku hlohlotela timhaka ta nhluvukiso eka swa ndhavuko na swa tindzimi ta hina ta xintima hinkwato laha tikweni ra hina ra Afrika-Dzonga.
English:
We feel very much proud about our democratic government for mandating the Department of Arts and Culture to act as a catalyst and or to create an enabling environment to promote and develop South African arts, culture and heritage in general; hence cultural religious and Linguistic Commissions, Pan South African Language Board, PanSALB, and many other commissions and boards.
The department has since created a cultural development programme in order to provide strategic support for the cultural industries value chain for human capital development, to conduct research and innovation and develop policies and strategies that will create and sustain an enabling environment and improve the regulatory framework of cultural industries. Through this subprogramme they increase access and participation by arts and culture practitioners in national and international cultural events, and to increase job opportunities and stimulate the economy through running art exhibition at national level.
We are also made aware that focus is placed on craft, technical services, music, books and publishing as well as research and development which are crosscutting function in this subprogramme.
One of the key highlights of the cultural developments subprogramme is the fact that the establish the art bank which will be responsible for caring and creating six national art works and six national events to be piloted and 26 national supported events.
There is investing in culture subprogramme that also promotes job creations as alluded before, skill development and economic empowerment and support business start-ups and poverty alleviation projects.
The bulk of the budget in this subprogramme is used for transfer to poverty alleviation projects that provide empowerment opportunities in the second economy for unemployed people through training and job creation in arts, culture and heritage.
Such transfer initially disbursed on the basis of business plans and agreements between the department and individuals or group of contractors. However, we are made aware that this subprogramme has been absorbed into the Mzansi Golden Economy Strategy from 2012-13 financial year, and is included in this cultural development subprogramme.
We also have the International Co-operation Subprogramme that manages South Africa's cultural participation in bilateral and multilateral activities. The subprogramme promotes the national arts, culture and heritage presence in the international arena, and builds its international partnerships.
In 2010-11 financial year, focus was placed on the approval of the African Union and Southern African Development Community of common policies and directives of arts and culture.
Developing and promoting of culture and heritage between various generations can enhance social cohesion both at local and national level; therefore, ceremonies and festivals that mark different stages of human development at individual, community and national level need to be celebrated as such.
In order to achieve these, community participation is of great importance, in particular, at local level planning. Communities across borders and between countries also share events, ceremonies and festivals.
Like all nations we are products of politics, history, culture, social and economic processes. Therefore, we are bound to encounter challenges as we forge forward with transformation.
Institutionalising multilingualism in South Africa is not without its own challenges. Other people will argue that language is a very sensitive and emotive issue. We, therefore have to demonstrate tolerance and mutual respect for all our languages including Sign language and other indigenous languages spoken by the minority communities like the Khoi, Nama and San.
One cannot separate language from culture, therefore, language is an instrument of promoting and developing of culture and living heritage in South Africa, hence the Constitution of our democratic government has placed a lot of emphasis on this matter by creating a statutory body like PanSALB to monitor the equitable advancement of our recognised languages among other things.
Furthermore, section 6(2) of our Constitution recognises the historically diminished use and status of the indigenous languages of our people, the state must take practical and positive measures to elevate the status and advance the use of these indigenous languages.
Hence, the use of official language Bill among other things seeks to promote parity of esteem and equitable treatment of all official languages of the Republic as contemplated in our Constitution.
So, whoever, as a South African, thinks that language and culture are emotional matters to deal with; they need a mental panel beating to align themselves with the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. [Laughter.]
We therefore, support the idea that each recognised South African language should be given the necessary support by this department to develop and sustain its role on our community.
In conclusion, the Budget Vote under discussion today, in our view, has inadequate funding to do all these things that we need as a country. We are aware that the department has tried to carry out its mandate to deliver transformation in the arts, culture and heritage sector despite a legacy of fragmentation and limited resources.
We are therefore, through the ANC-led government, very proud indeed that the doors of learning and culture have been opened to all of us. [Interjections.]
Xitsonga:
Nkulukumba Mutshamaxitulu, ku vulavula i xongela n'wini, naswona ku dya ngopfu a hi ku hlula ndlala. Ndzi gimeta mbulavulo wa mina kwala, hi ku seketela nkavelo wa ndzawulo leyi handle ka swipimelo. Inkomu. [Ku biwa mavoko.]
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE /JN (Eng)& NN Xits)///tfm///
END OF TAKE
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Thursday, 3 May 2012 Takes: 416 & 417
Mr D W MAVUNDA
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE: Chairperson, Minister of the Department of Arts and Culture, hon Paul Mashatile, hon Sunduza, hon Ministers, Deputy Ministers, hon members of the National Assembly, director-general, management and staff from the department, heads of various institutions of the Department of Arts and Culture - our lifeblood, the artists and the creative workers of our country who are with us this afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, comrades and friends - if we can define the DA as comrades then you are also appreciated. I would also like to add my appreciation for the way the Chairperson is dressed today.
Let me also start by adding my condolences on the passing away of our comrade and colleague, former Minister and member of this House, Comrade Sicelo Shiceka; may his soul rest in peace. We will sorely miss him.
It is indeed a great honour and privilege for me to contribute to the debate of our budget for 2012-13. As my colleague, the Minister and other colleagues from the ANC have already indicated that this year is a very important year for us, especially in arts, culture and heritage. This is so because this is the year when we mark 100 years of the establishment of which I regard as an institution that became the cornerstone for the building of a free nonracial and democratic South Africa, which we were able to start building in 1994. That institution is none other than the ANC.
While today we can say that the ANC is one of the parties here in this House in our parliamentary system, it is not only one of the parties but it is the biggest amongst all the parties in Parliament. I must also remind members that for more than 82 years of its life, this movement fought relentlessly for the freedom and democracy which we now often take for granted. While we accept that there were many other political formations and civil society organisations which played a serious role in the struggle for freedom and democracy, there can be no argument that the founders of the ANC left us with an institution to unite, initially the African people but later on all South Africans.
We would like to urge all hon members this year to set aside issues of political competition, especially since there is no election this year. So you have nothing to fear. Please join us in celebrating the centenary of this heritage, the ANC. [Applause.] It cannot be that while everybody on the continent of Africa, the African diaspora and elsewhere in the world as far away as Washington, Beijing, and other parts of the world are celebrating this momentous occasion, yet we in South Africa remain bickering on whether this is indeed a matter of national pride or just a matter of one political movement.
Having declared this centenary as the year of unity in diversity we are therefore strengthening the work of this department in building an inclusive society. Over the past 100 years, the world as a whole and South Africa in particular has come a long way in the struggle against all forms of racial prejudice which have caused countless suffering for humanity across the globe. Who can forget that millions of people all over the world perished or were tortured and abused in the name of racial supremacy?
We in South Africa remained the outposts of this backward philosophy in the latter part of the twentieth century. We must therefore never take for granted the foundations laid by our forebears deep in the belly of apartheid in 1955, when they gathered at Kliptown on 25 and 26 June 1955 and declared that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white.
Let us also remember that by simply daring to declare this principle, 156 of the most senior leaders of the congress movement, including Chief Albert Luthuli, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo, Helen Joseph, Ahmed Kathrada and many others were charged with high treason for simply declaring that South Africa belongs to all who live in it.
For over four years many of them were either in jail, banished or dragged to court on a daily basis until the case collapsed in March 1960. It is in this regard that we must all be concerned, when the National Planning Commission notes in its National Development Plan, that:
South Africans have made progress since 1994, in uniting the country, yet society remains divided. Inequality and inequity continues. Opportunity continues to be defined by race, gender, geographic location, class and linguistic background.
The commission goes further and notes that:
Inequality hardens society into a class system, imprisoning people in the circumstances of their birth. Inequality corrodes trust among fellow citizens, making it seem as if the game is rigged.
I agree with the NDP when it asserts that:
A united and cohesive society is a critical precondition for peace, security and prosperity and that nation-building and social cohesion matters both as an end-state and as a facilitator.
In implementing our mandate of nation-building, promoting social cohesion, reconciliation and national healing, we continue to facilitate social dialogues among all sectors of our society.
These dialogues are conducted in order to strengthen efforts towards building a people-centred and caring society; characterised by high levels of inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development. As part of building social cohesion, last year alone we conducted 40 community conversations in eight of the provinces. Participants at these conversations expressed shared challenges of class distinction, language barriers and cultural intolerance.
They also recommended that ordinary members of the community support and be involved in social cohesion projects.
It was also recommended that social cohesion be treated as a national priority with regular feedback and ongoing workshops on progress made towards nation-building, and promoting an inclusive society.
Hon Members, we have taken on board the proposals made by our people. They will be included in the submissions to the National Social Cohesion Conference to be held in the second half of this year. In preparation for the conference, we have undertaken further research and produced a draft document towards the development of a national strategy for building an inclusive and cohesive society.
The document is being released for public comment and will be work-shopped in all provinces, before being finalised and presented at the conference. As noted by the National Development Plan, lack of economic opportunities remains a serious threat to the achievement of a cohesive society. It is due to this understanding that over the last two States of the Nation Address, our President has focused the work of government on job creation and inclusive economic growth.
Through our department's Mzansi Golden Economy Strategy, we hope to contribute towards the national effort to reduce poverty, unemployment and inequality. As we reported here in this House last year, our department remains charged with the responsibility of steering another imperative of our goal for national healing, reconciliation and nation-building, that of geographic name changes and standardization
As part of our restorative work, we recently held a National Workshop on the Standardization of Geographical Names in Ekurhuleni. This workshop was part of efforts to build a national consensus on the process of geographical names and standardization. The workshop attracted great public interest and enthusiastic attendance. It recommended, among other things, that there be greater cooperation between governments at all levels to enhance the processes related to the standardizing of names.
Honourable members, we will continue to guide our communities through their representative bodies and local authorities on how to deal with this very essential yet sensitive matter of redressing one of the legacies of colonial and apartheid conquest with its attendant ideological dominance. The matter which grabbed most of the attention, the naming of our Capital City, is receiving attention and will be resolved very soon.
In the area of languages hon Chair and members, part of the process of healing the divisions of the past and promoting an inclusive citizenship, is the need to ensure that all languages, especially indigenous languages, enjoy equal status.
The South African Languages Bill, which has been presented in Parliament, is an attempt to elevate the status of indigenous languages and Sign Language. We have introduced a Bill in recognition of the reality that over many years their use was diminished and their status must now be upheld.
We trust that once approved, this Bill will go a long way towards ensuring parity of esteem as demanded by the Constitution for all official languages and allow our people to receive government services in the languages of their choice, and I can assure hon member again, that Afrikaans is under no threat, no language is under any threat.
Honourable Members, as part of ensuring language promotion and development, the National Language Service has partnered with North West University to develop machine translation systems for English to isiZulu, Setswana and Afrikaans respectively. We are also developing similar systems for the other official languages. These systems assist translators in their work by expediting the translation processes and ensuring high quality and standardization.
The existing systems are available for free through open source software and are already in use by the National Language Service and freelance translators. The department is continuing to award bursaries for undergraduate studies in Language Practice.
This year UNISA, the University of Zululand, the Walter Sisulu University, the University of Johannesburg and the University of Limpopo are the beneficiaries of this bursary. A co-operation agreement signed last year between the department and the Dutch Language Union will bear fruit, as projects in the field of Human Language Technologies and the translation of children's literature in all the official languages take off this year.
Honourable Members, on strengthening our work in promotion and preservation of languages, we are in the process of appointing a new council for the Pan South African Languages Board, .PanSALB, [Applause.]
Our Mzansi Golden Economy Strategy focuses on advancing the economic potential of cultural and creative industries, in order that they can make a greater contribution to job creation, skills development and poverty reduction. The Books and Publishing sector is the biggest contributor worldwide of all the cultural industries to the Gross DomesticProduct, GDP, of many countries. In this field, the department has created platforms that can develop a sustainable book industry.
In order to further promote a culture of reading and writing, our department, together with the National Library of South Africa is implementing the third phase of its African Classics Publications programme with 22 new titles having been launched. The classics launched in terms of this initiative included Chaka by T. Mofolo, UDingezweni by P.T. Mtuze and many others.
We congratulate South Africa's National Librarian, Mr John Tsebe, sited there, who has been chosen as Chairperson of the Council for Directors of National Libraries, a council of all the heads of National Libraries of the world that focuses on information exchange and the sustainability of Library and Information Services, LIS, worldwide.
The Department of Arts and Culture has also funded Indigenous Languages Publishing Programme, which is aimed at supporting small independent publishers. Emerging writers will publish books in nine indigenous languages. The first batch of publications was unveiled in September 2011 during the second National Book Week. Significantly, this project will continue to have a strong enterprise development thrust while developing publishing in indigenous languages.
The next National Book Week for 2012 will be held at the Red Location Museum precinct in Port Elizabeth, from the 3rd to 8th September, I hope hon Ngonyama will be there.
Honourable Members as part of our work in preserving the stories of our nation, the National Archives together with the Oral History Association of South Africa hosted the National Oral History Conference in October 2011 in Mahikeng. More than 50 learners participated in training as part of the Schools Family Project.
This year, this Conference will take place in the Free State.
Through such initiatives and partnerships which the department is committed in expanding the 2013, we are encouraging ordinary people to document their local histories and to promote sustainable development of writing and reading, to ensure that writing is recognised as a profession.
As part of promoting the African agenda together with the Windybrow Theatre, we will continue to hold the African Women Writer's Symposium. This symposium brings together women writers from the continent and Diaspora to share best practice and promote excellence in women's writing.
In conclusion hon Chair, let me also congratulate those that participated in the South African Music Awards, SAMAs, a few days ago. They did our country very proud; in particular, let us congratulate the young girl from the Eastern Cape, Bulelwa Mkutukana, popularly known as Zahara. We wish her all the best in developing her talent. Thank you [Applause.]
Dr C P MULDER / JN (Eng)/NN (Xits)///tfm & LMM/// END OF TAKE
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Thursday, 3 May 2012 Take: 417
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE
Dr C P MULDER: Thank you hon Chairperson, hon Minister and Chairperson of our Committee, I followed both speeches in my office, so I know exactly what you said. I was in a good mood; I even followed hon Van Den Berg's speech.
The fact of the matter Deputy Minister is that you referred twice in your speech, quoting from the Freedom Charter; South Africa belongs to all who lives in it, Black and White. Now if something belongs to all of us, then all of us should have a say as to what should happen in this country, and that is exactly what is not happening. We are paying lip service to nation-building.
You asked and you expected us to get involved with celebrating the celebration of the ANC's centenary. I can understand that you feel very strong about that, but you must also understand that we are a multiparty democracy. There are 12 political parties in this Parliament that does not belong to the ANC. If we all agree to your interpretation of the past, we would all be members of the ANC, which we are not.
If we are serious in terms of social cohesion, in terms of nation- building, then we must take the word seriously that our colleague have said just now, oom Koos Kganyago of UDM, when he said, Arts and Culture are at the heart of Nation-Building, united in our diversity. That is exactly the problem, we use those words, but we are paying lip service to that.
We are failing South Africans in terms of nation building by stumbling from one sporting event to the next; we do not recognise our true diversity. I want to come to what the Chairperson of the committee said with regard to name changes, yes of course that is very important, but we should address the real issues. Nobody in South Africa, no one, is in favour of offensive names, nobody.
It is therefore a failed argument to argue that we must get rid of offensive names, everybody agrees to that, but it is something else when you start to take names that may be important to certain sections of our society, they may not be important to you, but I can assure you that they are important to other sections of the community.
Afrikaans:
Met alle respek aan die agb Van den Berg, hy moet hom nie heilig daaroor hou nie. Hy het presies dieselfde gesê, maar sy party, die DA, is besig met dieselfde proses in Kaapstad, waar name van mense wat 'n bydra gemaak het – vat vir Coen Steytler en ander - ook deur die DA geteiken en weggeneem word. Die VF Plus se benadering is baie eenvoudig.
English:
Let us add names of those who have not been recognised, we do not have to take names away, it is not necessary in South Africa. [Time Expired.]
Ms T L P NWAMITWA E.K.S. (Eng)/TH (Afr)/LMM / END OF TAKE
UNREVISED HANSARD
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Thursday, 3 May 2012 Take: 418
"Old Assembly Main",Unrevised Hansard,03 May 2012,"[Take-333333418] [Old Assembly Main][90P-4-082A][gs].doc"
Dr P W A MULDER
Man T L P NWAMITWA-SHILUBANA: Muchaviseki Mutshamaxitulu na Yindlu ya wena yo hlonipheka, Muchaviseki Holobye na Mupfuni wa wena, Mufambisikulu na hofisi ya wena na vayeni hinkwenu, ndzi ri riperile.
Muchaviseki Mutshamaxitulu, u ta pfumelelana na mina leswaku ku tumbuluxiwa ka mitirho hi xin'wana xa leswikulu leswi rhangisiweke emahlweni eka mfumo lowu rhangeleke hi ANC. Eka mbulavulo wa yena na rixaka hi 2011, Presidente Zuma u endlile xikombelo xo hlawuleka eka tindzawulo hinkwato, mihlangano na mabindzu ya mfumo ku kongomisa maendlelo hinkwawo eka ku tumbuluxa mitirho. Ndzawulo ya Vutshila na Mfuwo i xiphemu xa ntirho lowu.
English:
Hon Chairperson, as we speak today, contributions for job creation by the Department of Arts and Culture and its entities are beginning to bear fruit. The creation of about 150 000 jobs by the Department of Arts and Culture with considerable contribution to the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, of the country, are worthy of mentioning before this House.
However, hon Chair, for purposes of this debate, my focus will only be on Programme 6 of Vote 14 which is National Archives and Library Services. This programme is in line with the National Archives and Records Services of South Africa Act 43 of 1996 whose objectives are to provide for National Archives and Record Services; the proper management and care of records of governmental bodies; the preservation and use of national archival heritage; and to provide for matters connected therewith.
Hon Chair, the main purpose of this programme is to provide efficient management of archival resources and to ensure more equitable access to library resources over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework. This is a very important programme without which vital heritage resources and information in arts and culture sector will simply be lost and undocumented.
The programme consists of four sub programmes namely: the National Archive Services, the National Library Services, Community Library Services and Capital Works of Libraries. Some of the key objectives of this programme that deserve mentioning include increasing understanding, use and appreciation of archival library and information services, providing infrastructural facilities and tools in support of quality library and archival services, and developing and implementing policy and legislative frameworks for archives and libraries.
Hon Chair, the National Archives and Library Services programmes is not only the biggest of the arts and culture programme, but it is also very crucial. This is demonstrated by the fact that it takes the biggest chunk of the arts and culture budget allocation.
Due to increased spending specifically on Public Works Libraries and Capital Works of Libraries, the expenditure for the programme increased from R456 million in 2008-09 to R720 million in 2011-12 at an average annual rate of 16,4%. Over the Medium Term Expenditure in this programme is anticipated to grow R 834,9 million at the average annual rate of 5,1%.
Some of the key projects that account for the massive increase in expenditure in this programme include the R302 million spent on the construction of 10 libraries and upgrading of 56 libraries in 2010-11 financial year.
In his 2012-13 Budget Speech, the Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan identified public sector infrastructure programme as one of the key levers of economic change. It is within that spirit that the capital works of libraries is expected to increase from R8 million in 2011-12 to R50 million in 2014-15 at an average annual rate of 84,2%, largely due to the upgrading of the National Archives fire system and old libraries.
Hon Chair, while this programme has recorded some remarkable achievements in the past, it is still faced with major delivery challenges and backlogs such as the construction, upgrading and resourcing of community libraries especially in the deep rural areas of our country like the area where I come from; expanding the African library for the Blind and Braille production projects and enhancing the recording and archiving of oral history is very important. You have heard the Deputy Minister telling us about the conferences that are being held. This is very important because our old people in the rural areas, who cannot read and write, die with their information unrecorded.
The approved Budget cut of R6,2 million for the community libraries services grant, raises a lot of concern to us. The transfer of conditional grants for construction of libraries to provinces based on business plans is another challenge because drawing business plans for construction would all possibility be a difficult task for our deep rural communities that so desperately need libraries.
Xitsonga:
Tindhawu leti pfumalaka tilayiburari ti tele. Tindhawu to fana na le Umtata, Bushbuckridge, Ritavi, ku hlaya i ku xurha. A hi veni na ntirhisano na Ndzawulo ya Dyondzo na tin'wana tindzawulo. Ematikoxikaya hi na vanhu lava nghenaka Dyondzo ni Ndzetelo wa Masungulo eka Lavakulu, Abet. Xana loko vanhu lava va lava ku yisa tidyondzo ta vona emahlweni va ta ti kuma kwihi tibuku to hlaya?
English:
That is why we need community libraries.
Xitsonga:
Hi kombela swifundzha swi lava ni ku lavisisa xivangelo xa ku pfumaleka ka tilayiburari hi ku hetiseka. Ku nga ri hi ku hetiseka ntsena, kambe ni ku hiseka hikuva hi ririmi ra mina hi ri:"endzhaku ku vuyela singe", hina hi ya emahlweni, a hi tlheleli endzhaku tanihi ANC.
English:
It is against this background and challenges in particular that the ANC supports the budget vote. I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms J TSHABALALA /KC/ /NN (Xits)/ END OF TAKE
UNREVISED HANSARD
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Thursday, 3 May 2012 Take: 419
"Old Assembly Main", Unrevised Hansard,08 May 2012,"Take 419 [Old Assembly Main].doc"
Mrs L P NWAMITWA-SHILUBANA
Ms J TSHABALALA: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister Dr Joe Paahla, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture, hon B Sunduza, hon Members of Parliament, treasured guests in the gallery, ladies and gentlemen...
Tshivenda:
...Aa! Ndi khou humbela pfarelo kha vhathu vhothe vhare nga ngomu Nduni, na vho sedzaho hayani. Tshivenda tshanga a tshi ngo kuna nga uri ndo malwa nga dzitshaka. Nne ndi tou vha muvenda mubukwa na ive, ive la vhibva nne nda sala. Nanwaha ri pembelela minwaha ya dana ya u lwela mbofholowo. A ri koni u fhirela phanda arali mushumo wa u hangwelana na u pfumedzana u tshi vha vhudifhinduleli ha vharema na vhothe vho tsikeledzwaho nga muvhuso wa tshitalula fhedzi. Rothe vharema na vhatshena ri tea udiimisela u lulamisa vhukhakhi ha muvhuso wo fhelaho.
English:
It is important to remember that the Khoisan people were the most brutalised by the colonialists who tried to make them extinct and undermined their language and identity.
As a free and democratic South Africa today, we cannot ignore to correct the past. We cannot disregard South African heroes and heroines, such as Comrade Barney Molokoane of Tladi, who died on 28 November 1985. He was the second born out of the three sons that his mother had. What Comrade Barney Molokoane would tell his mother during his visits was, "I am not your son, I belong to the nation, and I will not be shot in the back but on the battlefield. Where I die, the grass will not grow." With that said, his life did not end in vain; his spear has been picked by hundreds of young lions.
IsiZulu:
Inkululeko eNingizimu Afrika isilethele amathuba amangalisayo ngendlela exakile. Zonke izakhiwo zikahulumeni - ikakhulukazi umNyango wezoBuciko namaSiko - sezinamalungelo lapho kushaywa khona umthetho ophathelene nezimpilo zabo kanye nomphakathi wonke.
English:
The South African society has been undergoing fundamental transformation over the past 18 years. In accordance with the principles of justice, democracy, nonracialism and nonsexism, every sector of our society is facing change. While this may be unsettling for some, for many it brings hope that their needs, views and aspirations will now also become part of the mainstream.
Arts and culture continues to makes significant strides in positioning the cultural and creative industries as one of the main drivers of economic growth and job creation in our country. It is important that the ANC-led government proceeds on its path by drawing lessons on how other countries have used the arts, culture and heritage sector to promote general social cohesion as a prerequisite for building more prosperous societies.
In terms of arts and culture, the ANC-led government is informed by the realisation that societies with greater social cohesion tend to be the ones that are economically prosperous. Therefore, it is against this background that in April 2011, a national consultative summit, Mzansi Golden Economy, on the role of the arts, culture and heritage sector of the economy was convened in Johannesburg. Our culture and heritage are key to nation-building and social cohesion. These are the ingredients for creating a climate of social stability and economic growth.
Following a consultative conference in April 2011, 13 project teams were established to develop detailed concept documents and business plans for implementation of the Mzansi Golden Economy. This strategy works through existing institutions and is built on existing initiatives categorised in five areas, stimulation of demand, audience development and consumption, heritage, cultural observatory, and human capital development. The implementation of these projects is estimated to create 16 000 work opportunities and 2 300 full-time equivalent jobs between 2013-14 and 2014-15. The public art programmes are projected to create 5 000 work opportunities between 2013-14 and 2014-15.
The establishment of a recreational underwater museum in Kosi Bay in KwaZulu-Natal, which will interpret aspects of the history of slavery, indentured labour and the SA Native Labour Corps with the potential to create 1 517 work opportunities, with annual growth of between 200 and 968 work opportunities between 2013-14 and 2014-15.
The department is reviewing its organisational structure following an organisational development exercise. The anticipated adjustments to the structure include eliminating duplication of responsibilities; introducing the sharing of resources, using the capacity of its entities and that of the department in joint projects; considering organising employees into teams to work on specific projects; and finding the optimal balance of core and support functions. About 439 posts of the funded and established, 474 posts are filled as at 30 September 2011.
Capacity in the Department of Arts and Culture is indeed insufficient. There are due capacity constraints, hence the issue of the consultants that we observed.I think it has been raised very well that, from where we are seating, we see the need to reduce on such to ensure that there is an urgent need for strategy to deal with the issues of skills shortages.
For PanSALB,it is important to register that the committee and the hon chairperson of the committee has spoken largely about the matter, saying that we are not very satisfied regarding its fulfilling of its mandate. Therefore, we say much needs to be done; it cannot be business as usual. Something needs to be done as soon as possible. The issue of the PanSALB's new board council is welcomed; however, it is long overdue. We will be observing and assisting in the process as an oversight committee.
Over the seven-year period, total expenditure grew from R2,1 billion to R3,1 billion at an average annual rate of 6,8% due to the inflation rate increases. Spending on agency support and outsourced services is expected to grow from R129,9 million in 2011-12 to R323,9 million in 2014-15 at an average annual rate of 35,6%. This is driven largely by the Mzansi Golden Economy and job creation projects. The 2012 budget provides additional allocations of R77 million in 2012-13 out of R143,9 million in 2013-14 and R198,9 million in 2014-15.
IsiZulu:
Kuyiqiniso elingephikiswe ngumuntu ukuthi. . .
English:
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (G Snell): Hon member, you have two minutes to wrap up.
IsiZulu:
Nks J TSHABALALA:. . . umNyango wezoBuciko namaSiko ubamba iqhaza elibaluleke kakhulu emphakathini, iqhaza lokuxolelana nokubuyisana. Sengiyaqedela ngoba kuthiwa isikhathi siyaphela. Ngithanda ukusho ukuthi siyikomidi. . .
English:
. . . we accept the Budget Vote as is.
Tshivenda:
Nne ndi nne Ridovhona, khomba ya Madzinga. Ho no ya phuna na tshinoni. Ndi muthu ha dini, ndi dina nga zwiito.
English:
From where we are seating, you are saying to us the ANC cannot be regarded as a heritage, and if that was the case, everybody would be part of the organisation. Everybody has got the right and will to be part of any organisation, and to formulate their own heritageaccording to where they belong and what they believe in. Nation-building and reconciliation begin with me as an individual, as well as with my attitude towards the transformative agenda, and correcting the imbalances and social ills of the past. So it must start with us. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mrs H C SCHALKWYK / Mpho/(UNH Checked Eng)/ JN(Zul...LIM CHECKED)/ END OF TAKE
UNREVISED HANSARD
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Thursday, 3 May 2012 Take: 420
Ms J TSHABALALA
Dr H C VAN SCHALKWYK: Chairperson, all the previous speakers referred to nation-building and social cohesion, but the Department of Arts and Culture, DAC, is compelled to respond to outcome 12 which speaks to an empowered, fair and inclusive citizenship. This means that social cohesion and nation building should be prioritised in all six programmes of the department. The DA insists that there are four crucial elements which would ensure that these concepts do not remain concepts but become reality in all communities. They are delivery, reconciliation, redress and diversity. To build one nation and to enhance social cohesion, we would have to implement and internalise these four elements. I will elaborate on them as I proceed.
As far as cultural development is concerned, the Mzanzi's Golden Economy is one of the key focus areas of the DAC of the 2012-13 financial year. This is a response to outcome 4 which addresses job creation and economic growth. It is a step in the right direction that this important project has been allocated R50 million in the current financial year and R150 million in 2014-15. The question is however, how exactly the department intends to roll out this project because we must ensure that ordinary South African must benefit from this project. It has been reported that funds earmarked for the investing in culture project are being redirected to the Mzanzi's Golden Economy and that investing in culture is being phased out as from this year.
The question is what happens to the investing in culture projects that are still going on, if any? Despite the importance of Mzanzi, the DAc's strategic plan does not mention the project. This is totally unacceptable. What are the project's short and long term targets? What are the timelines within which these are expected to be achieved? Without set targets and timelines, monitoring and evaluation of the department's progress is impossible. Minister, corruption must not be allowed to destroy this project.
The cultural development programme could ensure that South African artists like Esther Mahlangu are acknowledged and respected in their own country. Esther is regarded as the queen of the Ndebele paintings. A museum in Germany has three storey wall exhibit of her work. She designed the tailfin for a British airways Boeing, Virgin Atlantic commissioned her to do five mural paintings for their music store on Times Square in New York. The only piece of art work that the national gallery in South Africa owns of Mahlangu, is a pair of beaded takkies which was a response to a trip to Mexico. Her work is categorised by the DTI as craft.
In his state of the nation address 2012, the President announced the unveiling of museums and centres of homes and graves of former ANC Presidents and other national heroes, memorial sites, etc. the DA supports this initiative because it addresses the elements of redress and reconciliation which are so important for nation building and social cohesion. We also applaud the government's decision in March this year to declare the Voortrekker Monument as a National Heritage site. Minister I was going to urge you to go even a step further and let the Voortrekker Monument and Freedom Park with a road or a gate which will reflect nation-building not only symbolically, but in a concrete fashion. You have announced tonight Minister that that has been done, thank you very much.
Afrikaans:
Museums en erfenisgebiede kan werkskepping genereer as projekte noukeurig beplan en uitgevoer word. Dit is egter belangrik dat werkskepping in die informelesektor hierby kan baat. Oorsee en in dele van Afrika is die handel in kuns- en handwerkprodukte deur plaaslike inwoners buite hierdie sentrums 'n algemele gesig.
In Suid-Afrika is dit egter nog afwesig. So 'n inisiatief behoort ontwikkel en aangemoedig te word. In die platteland is kwaliteit museums 'n groot toeriste-aantreklikheid wat indirek ook werkskepping bevorder. 'n Voorvereiste is dat museums deur bekwame, opgeleide persone bestuur moet word. Onlangse besoeke aan museums in die Noord-Kaapse platteland, het egter getoon dat baie van die museums vir jare lank reeds oor geen opgeleide personeel beskik nie, en dat assistente wat as skoonmakers aangestel was, die bestuur moet behartig. Dit is onnodig om te sê dat hierdie persone nie opgelei is om as gidse op te tree of om inligting aan besoekers te verskaf nie, en gevolglik neem besoeke af en dienslewering bly in die slag.
As deel van herstel en rekonsiliasie, ondersteun die DA die verandering van straat- en plekname. Ek weet my agb kollega, Nicolaas Van den Berg [Gelag.] het reeds daaroor gepraat, maar ek wil dit tog beklemtoon. Die voorvereiste is egter dat behoorlike prosesse en prosedures gevolg moet word, en dat die finansiële implikasies deeglik in berekening gebring word. Openbare deelname is ook noodsaaklik en besluite wat geneem word moet die diversiteit van alle Suid-Afikaners weerspieël.
Die element van dienslewering is relevant by die regering se beplande uitbreiding van dienste by gemeenskapsbiblioteke, en my kollega, ek dink twee sprekers tevore, ...
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr J Thibedi): Hon member, you have two minutes left.
Dr H C VAN SCHALKYWYK: ...Ja, twee sprekers tevore, het ook verwys na gemeenskapsbiblioteke. Hierdie prioriteit oor die medium termyn moet verwelkom word, veral as biblioteke in die diep platteland daarby gaan baat.
Ek wil vanaand die platteland beklemtoon, want dit is ook 'n voorheen-benadeelde groep. Inwoners uit verafgeleë plattelandse gebiede baat geensins by wat in biblioteke in groter sentra beskikbaar is nie. Dienslewering aan kiesers in die platteland is net so nodig as vir dié in stede en groter dorpe. In gebiede waar daar geen inligtingstegnologie beskikbaar is nie, is die biblioteek dikwels die enigste inligtingsbron en plek waar leesstof beskikbaar is. Skole in dié gebiede steun baie swaar op gemeenskapsbiblioteke vir inligting vir projekte wat die leerders moet doen, want skoolbiblioteke bestaan nie meer nie.
Ons steun die voorstel van die Nasionale Ontwikkelingsplan dat die kwaliteit van obnderwys vir die meeste leerders drasties verhoog moet word, en gemeenskapsbiblioteke kan in hierdie verband 'n uiters belangrike rol speel. Daarom is dit bemoedigend dat Program 6 van die Nasionale Argiewe en Biblioteekdienste, die grootste geallokeerde bedrag, naamlik R799,5 miljoen van al die programme vir die 2012-13 boekjaar ontvang. Hierdie bedrag behoort egter nog groter te wees as 'n mens die belangrikheid van gemeenskapsbiblioteke na waarde skat.
Ter afsluiting, aangesien gemeenskapsbiblioteke eers die voorwaardelike toelae kan bekom nadat 'n besigheidsplan ingedien en aanvaar is, sal die departement moet verseker dat diegene wat vir die opstel van die plan verantwoordelik is, voldoende opleiding ontvang. Daar moet ook verseker word ... [Time Expired.] [Applause]
Ms L N MOSS /TH (Afr)/ END OF TAKE
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"Old Assembly Main",Unrevised Hansard,03 May 2012,"[Take-333333421] [Old Assembly Main][90P-4-082A][gs].doc"
Dr H C van Schalkwyk
Afrikaans:
Mev L N MOSS: Voorsitter, baie dankie vir die voorreg om deel te neem aan hierdie debat. Ek wil reageer op wat die laaste spreker, agb VanSchalkwyk, gesê het dat die plattelandse gemeenskap deel moet vorm van die ontwikkeling van biblioteke. Ek wil daarop antwoord deur te sê dat die burgers van Suid-Afrika hul vertroue geplaas het in elke lid wat in hierdie Huis bymekaarkom. Deur daardie vertroue is ons almal ingesweer deur die hoogste regter van die land, om die regte van ons mense te verdedig. Een daarvan is, agb van Schalkwyk, dat ons samesprekings moet voer met die lid, wat die Minister van Kuns en Kultuur is. Ons moet sê hoeveel biblioteke in ons kiesafdeling is, wat die tekortkominge is en wat verander moet word. Dit help nie elke keer ons kom kla hier, maar ons doen niks aan die saak nie.
Vandag, nadat ek nou min of meer sewe jaar in die Parlement is, hoor ek dat die opposisie min of meer in dieselfde rigting as die ANC praat.
Ek sien ook aan die minderheidsparty se kant, verskil die VF Plus van julle. Dit het ek ook nie geweet nie. Vandag sien ek, agb lid Van der Berg, dat hulle verskil met julle, as die DA. Ek wil ook vir die agb Mulder sê dat u meer na die komitee toe moet kom om u standpunt uit te druk. Daardie standpunt is om die vinger eers na uself te wys en te vra of u 'n verandering in Suid-Afrika wil maak om die nasie te bou.
Vrydag het ons bymekaar gekom in Pretoria by die Uniegebou. Ander partye het deelgeneem in die debat oor die vryheid. Ek moet sê, en julle gaan miskien vandag dink ek is rasisties, ons broers en susters van die anderkant, moet meer na hierdie tipe funksies toe kom om 'n voorbeeld te stel - die sogenaamde witmense. Dan sal die mense van Suid-Afrika sien dat hierdie land regtig prober om 'n nasie te bou. [Tussenwerpsels.]
Ek kan nie ander mense se kinders leer wat respek is, as ek nie in my huis begin nie. Ek moet eers in my huis begin. Voordat ek vinger wys, moet ek dit doen. U wat 'n partyleier is of aan daardie party behoort, moet vir die mense buitekant Suid-Afrika wys dat ons bereid is om al die nasies bymekaar te bring.
Ek wil nie verder uitbrei nie, want ek gaan baie van my tyd neem. Ek wil vir die meeste partye wat deelgeneem het aan die debat sê dat u opbouende kritiek, en nie afbrekende kritiek gegee het nie. U het dit gedoen om die ANC-beheerde regering op die tone te hou. Al manier hoe ons vorentoe gaan beweeg, is om te sê wat verkeerd is, maar ook om met voorstelle te kom.
Agb Van der Berg, jy moet nie geweld hier kom skep nie. Ek wil direk na my toespraak gaan. Ek het vandag simbole en dokumente gebring wat ons na ons kiesafdelings toe moet neem. Dit is die Grondwet, die nasionale volkslied enook die nasionale simbole, maar mees belangrik, die vlag van ons land. [Applous.]
English:
Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, Members of Parliament, distinguished guests, comrades and friends, we are saddened by the passing on of Comrade Sicelo Shiceka. He joins Oliver Thambo, Solomon Mahlangu and Chris Hani who all passed on in the month of April, a month of liberation in our country. Our country's Constitution encourages active citizen participatory democracy and empowerment in people's lives through social cohesion. While researching international anti-apartheid activism, I found a little known song entitled,Hanging on a Tree. In 1963 ...
The TEMPORY CHAIRPERSON (Mr G T SNELL): Hon member, you have two minutes to wrap up.
Ms L N MOSS: Chairperson, I will make my point, I don't care. It is possible, as I was saying, to achieve nation-building and cohesion, through these things I have in front of me.
I would like to emphasize that today Africa is recognized as the cradle of mankind. In our part of the continent, we have a rich and varied past that is only now being appreciated for its complexity and diversity. Indeed, our heritage is the foundation from which we are working to rebuild our society.
My message today is to rejoice in the richness of our society. Chairperson, I also want to make use of this opportunity to acknowledge those very important artists who are also veterans of the liberation struggle because they contributed to the music and arts to get our freedom. That is Mum Ghandi Klaansen, Abigail Kubeka, Dorothy Masuku, Faith Kekana, Thembi Mtshali, Mahotella Queens and the Soul Brothers. The ANC supports this very important budget. I thank you. [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE / src / END OF TAKE
UNREVISED HANSARD
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Ms L N MOSS
"Old Assembly Main",Unrevised Hansard,03 May 2012,"[Take-333333422] [Old Assembly Main][90P-4-082A][gs].doc"
The MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE: Thank you very much, Chair. Let me take this opportunity to thank all hon members for supporting the Budget. I am not sure though whether the DA did support it – hon Van den Berg you did not say anything. [Interjections.]
Mr N J VAN DEN BERG: I do support.
The MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE: You do support? Okay. [Interjections.] Thank you very much, hon members. I just want to quickly mention three issues. Firstly, on PanSALB, the Deputy Minister has just indicated that we are now in the process of appointing a new board. I just want to add that we also have completed a review of PanSALB, we will be implementing the recommendations and we will share them with the portfolio committee. We are also reviewing the PanSALB Act to ensure that we strengthen the governance issues. So, we will be briefing the portfolio committee soon.
Secondly, regarding the use of consultants, we definitely agree that we will work towards reducing the use of consultants. We are currently trying to fill critical posts to ensure that they have the requisite skills to be able to do our work. So, the committee can be assured that we do want to build internal capacity.
Thirdly, the hon Van den Berge raised an issue of Venice Biennale; I want to say that we will be briefing the portfolio committee once this matter is concluded in court. You will recall that there is a court case on this matter, so once that is done we will brief you accordingly so that you don't rely on newspapers – you get correct facts. We will give you the correct information.
Fourthly, on the issue of names, I just want to say to, hon Mulder that it is not just about dealing with offensive names. To us name changing is part of the transformation processes. So, if there is a place called Mulder and the people don't like it we have to change it. [Interjections.] So, it may not be offensive, but for the first time, we are giving our people a freedom to choose, which they never had before. [Interjections.]
Mr J H VAN DER MERWE: Hon Chairperson ... [Interjections.]
TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Hon G Snell): Is that a point of order?
Mr J H VAN DER MERWE: No, I would like to know if the hon Minister is prepared to ... [Interjections.]
TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Hon G Snell): Order! Order! Hon members! Is that a point of order?
Mr J H VAN DER MERWE: No, Chairperson, I would like to know if the hon Minister ... [Interjections.]
TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON: (Hon G Snell): Hon member, is that a point of order?
Mr J H VAN DER MERWE: I am trying to address you, Chairperson, I am saying it's not a point of order but I am asking if the Minister is prepared to answer a question – a simple question. [Interjections.]
TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON: (Hon G Snell): Are you prepared to answer a question?
The MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE: The only problem is that I have five minutes, so I may not have time to answer your question. [Interjections.]
TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON: (Hon G Snell): So, he is not prepared to take a question. [Interjections.]
The MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE: I was saying, hon Mulder that I think you are getting this issue wrong. Because ... [Interjections]
TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Hon G Snell): Order! Hon members! Order!
The MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE: The issue of name changing is not about dealing with offensive names only. It is to give the people a freedom to choose. I think that is a fundamental point that you must understand, that in the past years under the apartheid rule our people had no opportunity to choose the names where they lived. That is what we are giving them. [Applause.]
So, let us all allow that process – I agree with hon member Van den Berge, that the process is important. We don't want anybody to wake up tomorrow and say this place is now called this name. There is a process, people are engaged and once that process is done let us respect it – the will of the people. That is why I am very happy that the Magistrate or the Judge - recently on the Tshwane street names - has ruled that the process should unfold because I think that is correct. [Applause.]
Lastly, hon member Van den Berge complained that he has not seen the two of us at the portfolio committee. Well, remember hon member that you are new in the portfolio committee ... [Laughter.] So, the day when you came we were not there; but I want to assure you that I and the Deputy Minister do like attending the portfolio committee and we will be there. And we would like to engage with you on the language Bill before it goes to the House. I think we will get consensus and I am sure you agree.
With those few words, hon Chair, I would like to once more thank all hon members and all the people that have attended today. We promise that we will do exactly what we said we will do in implementing the programmes. We will work together with the portfolio committee to ensure that we can succeed in transforming our country for the better. Thank you. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
The Committee rose at 19:03.
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