Chairperson of the House, the Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Dr Joe Phaahla, and all Members of the Executive Councils, MECs, present, the chairperson and hon members of the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture, Members of Parliament, the Director-General, Mr Sbu Xaba, senior managers, chief executive officers, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, we are honoured to present our 2011-12 Budget Vote at the start of an important month in the development of our democratic nation. This month of June is dedicated to honouring the many sacrifices made by generations of young people to bring about freedom and democracy in our country.
This year we commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Soweto uprising under the theme: Youth Action for Economic Freedom in our Lifetime. During this month we recommit ourselves to the objective of further advancing youth development as an integral part of building a society that is united, democratic, nonracial, nonsexist and prosperous.
Hon members, for the presentation of this Budget Vote we are joined by young practitioners in the arts, culture and heritage sector. [Applause.] We acknowledge that more work still needs to be done to develop an appreciation, the arts amongst young people.
We are also aware of the need to ensure that talent is identified and developed from a young age and that a career in the arts becomes a career of choice for young people. These are some of the tasks that we will continue to be seized with as we move forward.
Some of the specific programmes we will engage in include, firstly, working with the Field Band Foundation to build the mass participation of youth in music and the performing arts. Working together with the National Youth Development Agency, NYDA, this year we will support Youth Day celebrations. Our support will include running programmes aimed at raising awareness of the significance of Youth Day.
Hon members, I am pleased to report that, as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting youth in the arts, we have allocated more than R6 million to youth programmes in the current financial year. In addition, through our partnership with the European Union, more funds will be made available to advance youth development in the arts.
Chairperson, we as the ANC government are proud of the progress we are making in building the kind of society envisaged by our forebears, who declared in 1955 that:
South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white ...
We must continue to commit ourselves to the realisation of the ideals of the Freedom Charter. This we should do so that we will have made significant progress towards achieving the goals of the Freedom Charter by its centenary in 2055.
Last year, during the 2010 Fifa World Cup, the nation demonstrated high levels of unity and patriotism. To us this proved that our goal of building a nation united in its diversity is within reach. We must sustain the momentum we built up during the World Cup to forge a national identity and promote social cohesion.
In order to further strengthen efforts aimed at nation-building and promoting social cohesion, the Department of Arts and Culture began a process of repositioning the arts, culture and heritage sector as a major contributor to the economic emancipation of South Africans. This process culminated in the historic National Consultative Conference on the contribution of the arts, culture and heritage sector to the economy, which we held in April this year.
The conference brought together more than 1 000 delegates who, for the first time in many years, crafted a clear path for this sector and defined its contribution to the economy. Delegates at the conference noted the following.
Our natural heritage, measured by the value of ecotourism, contributes R21 billion per annum to the economy.
Our music industry is worth around R1,7 billion in sales and was ranked 17th in the world in 2007.
The craft sector contributes R1,1 billion annually to the gross domestic product, GDP, and employs approximately 38 000 people.
The visual arts sector has a turnover of nearly R2 billion per annum and there are an estimated 17 000 people working in that sector.
The total net turnover of the book publishing industry in 2007 was estimated to be worth R3,2 billion.
Finally, the film industry generates over R5,5 billion in economic activity annually and employs an estimated 30 000 people
Delegates at the conference further noted that societies with greater social cohesion tend to be the ones that are more economically prosperous.
Delegates declared that, and I quote:
The creative economy in South Africa has the potential to be a leading sector in generating economic growth, employment and trade, as is the case in many advanced economies...
This they did as a direct response to President Zuma's clarion call that the year 2011 should be a year of job creation. A number of specific proposals were agreed to at the conference. These include, firstly, the need to develop interventions throughout the education system to identify and develop the artistic talent of learners at a young age and encourage learners to pursue careers in the arts.
The conference also committed itself to a process that will lead to the establishment of a National Skills Academy for the Arts.
It was also agreed that there is a need for the establishment of an enterprise which will source goods and services from the sector, thus ensuring better access to markets for arts practitioners. The conference also agreed on the establishment of cultural precincts throughout the country. In the current financial year, work will begin on establishing five cultural precincts, commencing with the planning of a precinct in Mangaung, to be followed later by other provinces.
Furthermore, a touring venture will be established, which will develop exhibitions and performances that will tour the country, and ensure that exhibitions are displayed at the cultural precincts.
The conference also committed itself to taking forward the planning and implementation of the National Liberation Heritage Route.
A public art programme will also be designed, focusing on beautification and storytelling through art in communities, as well as showcasing our artistic talent.
The conference agreed on the establishment of an Art Bank to curate and display local art works in public buildings.
The conference further committed to the establishment of a cultural observatory, the purpose of which will be to develop key indicators, collect cultural statistics and analyse trends within our sector.
Hon members, project teams are now in place to develop detailed business plans for the implementation of all the conference resolutions. Consultations with provincial and local government with regard to the establishment of cultural precincts have also begun. We look forward to reporting to this House on the progress we are making as we travel on this uncharted but necessary journey.
The new path that we have crafted will require that we re-examine the funding of our sector. This was also the overwhelming view of delegates at the conference. In this regard, the Department of Arts and Culture has embarked on a process of realigning funding to the priorities identified at the Consultative Conference.
We will also be approaching National Treasury with a view to securing increased funding for our sector, focusing on the priorities that we have identified. We are confident that we will receive a sympathetic ear from National Treasury because our priorities speak directly to job creation, which is the primary focus of the work of this government.
We will also be working with the Department of Trade and Industry, with a view to ensuring that our sector benefits from the support measures outlined in the Industrial Policy Action Plan, Ipap 2.
We are confident that, because of the plans we are putting forward, our sector will also be considered for funding from the R9 billion fund for job creation which was announced by the President earlier this year.
We will work with other public funding agencies, such as the Industrial Development Corporation, IDC, and the private sector to secure adequate funding for the sector. Over the past few months we have had discussions with the National Lotteries Board, with a view to mainstreaming Lotto funding for our sector.
We made a commitment to stabilise the department and build the necessary capacity to effectively implement our mandate. Chairperson, I am pleased to announce that we have appointed a Director-General, Mr Sibusiso Xaba, who is here with us today. [Applause.] The immediate task of the DG will be to ensure that all vacant critical posts are filled by the end of this current financial year.
We have inaugurated the bards of the National Arts Council, NAC, the National Film and Video Foundation and the Nelson Mandela Museum. The process of appointing the bard of the National Heritage Council is also at an advanced stage. Our intention is to appoint all outstanding boards by the end of this financial year.
The Robben Island Museum is an important World Heritage Site. Our goal is to ensure that it is preserved as an important part of our liberation heritage and that it remains a major tourist destination and world-class facility.
In the coming months we will begin a process of rationalising all our institutions to minimise duplication and ensure clarity of roles. We have, therefore, come up with a turnaround strategy for Robben Island.
Chairperson, in his state of the nation address, President Zuma indicated that we would launch a National Liberation Heritage Route to honour all those who had contributed to the liberation of our country. We are pleased to report that provincial consultations on the National Liberation Heritage Route have been completed.
This project has also been presented to a number of African countries and is supported by the African World Heritage Fund. One of its board members, Mr Leon Rajaobelina, is here with us.
Hon members, as we implement the National Liberation Heritage Route project, we do so fully aware that next year the oldest liberation movement in Africa, the ANC, will be celebrating its centenary. This is an important part of our liberation heritage, to be celebrated and preserved for future generations.
Linked to the National Liberation Heritage Route is our honouring our national icons. This is in addition to the work we are doing with Freedom Park on the Gallery of Leaders, the Wall of Names, Isivivane and Sikhumbhuto.
I take this opportunity to thank Dr Wally Serote, who retired as our Freedom Park CEO earlier this year. I want to thank him for the outstanding work he has done to develop this site, which stands as a monument to our country's freedom and democracy.
In taking forward the work of preserving and restoring our liberation heritage, we will be unveiling the National Heritage Monument project next year.
As part of our legacy project, last year we upgraded the graves of the following icons of our struggle and declared them heritage sites: Charlotte Maxeke, Lillian Ngoyi and Helen Joseph. This year the South African Heritage Resource Agency will finalise the upgrading of the graves of the following icons and declare them heritage sites: Zaccheus Mahabane, Dr James Moroka and Thomas Mapikela, all in the Free State; O R Tambo, Sefako Makgatho, Alfred Xuma, Pixley k Isaka Seme, and Rahima Moosa, all in Gauteng; Rev Langalbalele Dube, Chief Albert Luthuli, and Josiah Tshangana Gumede, all in KwaZulu-Natal; and Steven Bantubonke Biko and Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe in the Eastern Cape.
Liliesleaf Farm will also be declared a heritage site. It is here that icons such as former President Mandela, Ahmed Kathrada, Andrew Mlangeni, the late Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Elias Motsoaledi and Arthur Goldreich gathered, planned to overthrow the apartheid regime, and formed ukhonto weSizwe. We will celebrate its 50th anniversary in December this year.
Chairperson, work is also being finalised this year on declaring the Voortrekker Monument a heritage site.
In February this year, we marked the 30th anniversary of the 1981 Matola Raid in Mozambique. The highlight of this event was the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the government of Mozambique and the unveiling of the design of the Matola Raid Monument and Interpretation Centre. This historic site will stand as a constant reminder of the common heritage we share with the people of Mozambique in national liberation. We acknowledge in our presence in this House today a delegation from Mozambique, led by the Permanent Secretary of Culture, Ms Maria Manuela Rico. [Applause.]
We are also joined on this occasion by Ms Xoliswa Sithole, one of our country's most talented film makers. Ms Sithole's work has been recognised internationally for its relevance to the plight of women and children. Ms Sithole recently won a second British Academy of Film and Television Arts,Bafta, award for her documentary, Zimbabwe's Forgotten Children, in the current affairs category. She has also won a Peabody Award, the oldest multimedia award. I hope she is somewhere in the House. Hon members, talented and pioneering film makers should continue to receive support from government. R130 million has already been made available to the National Film and Video Foundation, NFVF, by National Treasury. It will be disbursed over the next three years. We must do this as part of our commitment to telling our stories to future generations and the world at large, and also to strengthen the contribution of the film industry to job creation and economic growth and development. In the next three years the department will increase its investment in the production of local films. This will include positioning our country as an international film destination.
We will also continue to encourage and support initiatives to promote our artists on the world stage. Our immediate task in this regard is to finalise the policy on our cultural diplomacy, in partnership with the Department of International Relations and Co-operation. Among other things, this policy will result in the deployment of cultural attachs in our diplomatic missions. [Applause.]
Hon members, in conclusion, we are allocating R178 million to administration; R549 million to the performing arts; R101 million to the Pan South African Language Board, PanSALB; R180 million to cultural development; R763 million to heritage; and, of course, the National Archives and Record Service will get R694 million. Ke a leboga. [I thank you.] [Applause.]
Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon Members of Parliament and guests, ... le nzwakazi iphambi kwenu iyanibulisa namhlanje, inamkela kule ngxoxo-mpikiswano yolu hlahlo-lwabiwo-mali. [ ... this beautiful woman in front of you is greeting you today, welcoming you to this budget debate.]
The ANC takes as its starting point this clause from the Freedom Charter: "The people shall govern!" Democracy is more than electing representatives to power once every five years. It means empowering people, especially women, workers, youth and rural people, to participate in decision-making in order to strengthen democracy.
The Freedom Charter is the basic law of our liberation movement, a declaration of principles uniting all the people in our land. Currently, the Charter is the picture of a future South Africa, in which oppression and exploitation shall no longer be accepted and tolerated. It is a document to be treasured by all those who love freedom, for generations to come.
The Department of Arts and Culture has repositioned itself. It is no longer a department that just fosters social cohesion and nation-building. It has shifted its focus to contributing to economic development and growth. Often people are not aware that the creative industry not only brings people together, but also puts bread on the table for those who are hungry. In fact, the creative industry contributes to the economy.
That is why it is important for the department to work with the National Youth Development Agency, NYDA, so that the youth can ensure that they are empowered, employed and skilled. As we speak about youth economic freedom in our lifetime, we think about ... [Inaudible.] This is what the department is going to do.
To achieve this, during the ANC January 8 Statement and 2011 state of the nation address, President Zuma declared 2011 the year of job creation, and re-emphasised the need for government departments and the private sector to prioritise their programmes in line with the objectives of the New Growth Path, with the aim of promoting job creation, rural development, decent work and a better life for all.
The Department of Arts and Culture has already started to do so by hosting the historic National Consultative Conference on the role of the sector in promoting economic growth and job creation, which was held in Turbine Hall, Newtown, Johannesburg on 14 and 15 April 2011. The theme of the summit was Mzansi's Golden Economy. The conference discussed the way forward in highlighting and recognising the arts, culture and heritage sector in job creation and economic development.
The Department of Arts and Culture continues to contribute to South Africa's economic growth path by allocating funding to and investing in culture subprogrammes to contribute to job creation, poverty reduction, skills transfer, small business development and broad-based black economic empowerment, BBBEE.
It must be noted that the subprogramme received an unfavourable audit report during the previous financial year. However, the department has already implemented a new structure and funding model for the subprogramme to avoid possible failure.
Since 1994 the ANC government has done tremendously well in the transformation of the country as a whole, by being able to attract and host mega events such as the 2010 Fifa World Cup and the 1995 Rugby World Cup, to mention two.
Government tasked the Department of Arts and Culture to co-ordinate the 2010 Fifa World Cup arrangements, and indeed the event was a success. The department took the opportunity and used it as a platform to showcase and brand South Africa, and they did so successfully, in collaboration with the Department of Tourism and the Department of Sport and Recreation. The country managed to attract over 10 million international tourists last year, and that was good for economic growth.
The ANC government is fighting the stigma of apartheid of restricting people from travelling. It is bringing the cultures of the country to the fore and encouraging locals to explore their own country. This supports heritage and cultural tourism, which contributes to economic growth and job creation.
The ANC government continues to liberate and transform our country through programmes such as that on South African geographical name changes, which emanated from the SA Geographical Names Council Act, Act 118 of 1998. To this day we still live where there are names very openly displayed before our people, names that you cannot mention because they are still offensive. These are things that the department must transform speedily.
The department has a subprogramme named "International Co-operation". This subprogramme facilitates economic and other development opportunities for South African arts, culture and heritage, nationally and globally, through the mutually beneficial growth of the sector. The budget allocation for this subprogramme has increased from R32 million to R34 million in this financial year.
The department is engaging with international treaties in order to achieve the following: build international cultural partnerships; promote and celebrate South African arts and culture abroad; contribute to and promote the African cultural agenda by giving its support to the fostering of common African cultural policies; contribute to the strengthening of the global legal treaty framework for the promotion and protection of arts, culture and heritage - those are multilateral treaties; and facilitate all alternative sources of funding for the arts, including access to the Official Development Assistance, ODA.
The Minister of Arts and Culture has allocated R74 million to the National Film and Video Foundation to develop the local film industry and create employment opportunities, especially for young people, women and people living with disabilities. This subprogramme transfers funds to the National Film and Video Foundation in support of skills, local talent and local marketing development in South Africa's film and video industry. The primary legislative framework of this subprogramme emanates from National Film and Video Foundation Act. The programme's main objective is to uplift the local film industry by facilitating access to the international networking platform at markets, festivals and exhibitions.
The department has a programme named "Performing Arts". This programme was specifically established to develop and promote the performing arts and culture in South Africa, and mainstream their role in social development and heritage programmes that are informed. Mostly, the people who participate in these programmes are women, children, young people and people living with disabilities. This has started already, by establishing partnerships with provinces. The programme has been allocated R549 million to further support performing arts projects specifically focusing on film and video production.
The Minister of Arts and Culture has realised that there are challenges facing the film industry in South Africa. These challenges include the lack of a public film school in South Africa and thus young people have to go to private institutions, which become very expensive for them. It's therefore very important now for the Minister and the Minister of Higher Education to ensure that there is a school that is supported by the government and that belongs to the public, rather than having young people going to private schools. To address this challenge, the Minister of Arts and Culture wants to establish the first public film school in South Africa, which will be accessible to all communities, specifically targeting those communities that are unable to finance themselves in private film schools. [Applause.]
The Department of Arts and Culture, in collaboration with the Department of Basic Education, is in the process of establishing programmes in schools to encourage learners to participate in cultural and creative activities. The aim is to increase the learners' awareness that they can make a living out of these activities, rather than schools' only forcing learners to participate in sports activities.
Ngoba apha eMzantsi Afrika abantwana bayanyanzelwa ukuba bathabathe inxaxheba kwezemidlalo. Abantu abalingana nam abanamdla wokuthabatha inxaxheba kwezemidlalo ... [Here in South Africa children are forced to participate in sport. People of my age are not interested in participating in sport ...]
... but they are culturally creative, so by allowing them to take part in cultural activities, we prevent issues such as teenage pregnancy, HIV and Aids.
In the past, we used to have sketches and various cultural events. Now the Minister is bringing them back to the schools, in collaboration with the Department of Basic Education. [Applause.] The people who are most affected are the young people and that is why this programme is important.
The department is also supporting the National Heritage Council of South Africa in developing the Liberation Heritage Route Project, which is aimed at preserving and promoting the significant events, people and places that narrate the history of South Africa's liberation.
The overall mandate of the department is derived from the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
Lastly, I would like to thank all the stakeholders who participated in the Mzansi's Golden Economy Summit to reposition the arts and culture sector towards economic development and job creation.
I salute and commemorate the young people who stood up and fought so that we in this country could be free.
Yiloo nto ... [That is why ...]
... today we are together here, black and white. This is the fruit of democracy for which young people like Solomon Mahlangu and many others - you named many - died. Therefore we salute them, all the comrades, on this day and also those who stood up in Kliptown to make sure that the Freedom Charter united all of us as South Africans.
As I have said, this department is not only about arts and culture, but it is part of creating growth in the economy. That is why it's important for young people to work together with the department.
Chairperson, I would like to start by congratulating the newly appointed director-general of the Department of Arts and Culture. We trust that the director-general will tackle the many challenges of the department with the necessary vigour and enthusiasm. Mr Minister, I also hope that the appointment of the director-general will lead the way to now appointing people in the many acting positions in the department.
When one analyses the budget of the Department of Arts and Culture, it is quite clear that this department is to a large extent a conduit for funds transferred to other entities. This makes the oversight of these entities extremely important. It is quite worrying that there are still a number of entities, such as the National Arts Council, the Afrikaanse Taalmuseum, the Performing Arts Centre of Free State, Pacofs, and Robben Island that are still being given qualified audit opinions. Some of these institutions, such as Pacofs and Robben Island, have been receiving qualified audits and disclaimers for the past five years. Surely this is not good enough, especially when a World Heritage Site is involved. Therefore, Minister, I am quite relieved to hear about a turnaround strategy for Robben Island and we trust that it will really be turned around.
Although this department comprises a wide range of programmes, there are a few specific aspects that I would like to focus on.
The first aspect is the state of the performing arts in South Africa. When one looks at the funds made available for the performing arts, one is led to believe that things are quite positive.
The increase in funds for the National Film and Video Foundation is also welcome, as we have proof of the film-making talent in South Africa - our films have won an Oscar and recently awards at Cannes and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Bafta. This can indeed be a point of growth and development.
It is also worth mentioning that we will be focusing on the development of the youth in the arts. The training of the youth, talent identification and the establishment of the Skills Development Foundation are extremely important. These are wonderful projects and we should congratulate you, hon Minister.
However, we have to realise that we also have to look at the other side of the coin, and that is where the actual jobs are. We have to realise that there are many challenges facing artists and arts organisations in South Africa. One of the most significant challenges is to get recognition for the crucial role the arts play in the quality of life of South Africans and the development of communities.
Although the department has invested in arts and culture, continued - and importantly - wise and effective investments are essential to sustain and enhance the level of artistic and cultural activities in the country.
Many performing arts organisations and companies - and artists themselves - are facing financial difficulties, and the bodies are on the verge of closing down. This is a very serious issue, since these organisations often nurture the creative talent that is crucial for the generation of economic activity in South Africa's cultural sector.
Without sufficient funding for the performing arts, we could have a situation where there is a loss of artistic and technical skills. This could lead to an impoverished arts sector in the country.
This has serious implications for the department's and the country's goal of social cohesion and nation-building, not to mention the potential loss of job opportunities.
The performing arts sector has the challenge of developing new audiences and creating greater access to productions. This is directly linked to affordability. However, the dilemma is that in order to create more access, prices have to be more affordable. More affordable prices jeopardise the long-term viability of arts organisations, which have to deal with limited government funding and increasing production costs.
When one looks at the amount of R549 million, the third highest allocation in the department's budget, it does seem at face value that it would be sufficient to address the sector's needs. However, the bulk of the allocation goes to the playhouses, with only R68 million allocated to the National Arts Council. This is where the artists and performing arts companies have to compete for a very tiny slice of the cake.
The problem is that of sustainability. It is extremely difficult for the performing arts sector, indeed for any sector within arts and culture, to continue to develop and even prosper if they have to rely on ad hoc funding year after year. It is virtually impossible to plan further than for the next few months and impossible to have the privilege of having time to create new works, instead of being in survival mode.
Added to this is the heartbreaking reality of many of our talented artists and performers, who live in abject poverty in their old age. It is time that the funding structure for the performing arts, indeed the creative arts, is revisited.
I am indeed very pleased to hear that you are doing something in this regard. It is necessary that a thorough analysis is made of the actual needs of the sector and whether the current funding model and budget address these.
A second aspect that I would like to highlight is the state of multilingualism in our country. An amount of R56 million has been allocated to the Pan South African Language Board, PanSALB. The mandate of this board is to create an environment conducive to developing, using, promoting and protecting the 11 official languages, as well as languages such as Khoe, Nama, San and South African Sign Language.
How is it possible that such an entity, with such an important mandate, in fact a constitutional mandate, has a CEO who has been suspended with full remuneration for more than two years? This, plus the legal costs, has been such a drain on PanSALB's finances that they cannot proceed with any language projects! How can the language rights of the citizens of this country be protected when the board itself cannot sort out its own internal problems? This matter has to be addressed as a matter of urgency. In this instance I am looking forward to actually reading the proposed South African Languages Bill which we are awaiting.
Lastly, Chair, this is the department that has the important responsibility of ensuring social cohesion and nation-building. If we have to judge where we are in terms of this, the recent examples of intolerance displayed at Human Rights Day and Freedom Day celebrations, where speakers from opposition parties were booed and treated with total disrespect and contempt, indicate that not much progress has been made. Indeed, it seems as if there is degeneration in respect for others and their points of view. Even if one factors in that this was in election time, the basic tenets of social cohesion and nation-building should make this kind of behaviour unacceptable in any context.
It is therefore commendable and quite appropriate that tomorrow you are launching a social cohesion campaign, South African @ Heart. I trust that this campaign will address the real issues standing in the way of true social cohesion and nation-building, and that it will not be only a superficial effort of plastering over the cracks that divide our nation. Thank you. [Applause.]
I just want to remind members that they should address the House through the Chairperson and not speak directly to the Minister, please.
Omileyo apha nguPhumelele Ntshiqela. Mhlalingaphambili, Mphathiswa nobambisene naye, namalungu onke abalulekileyo ale Ndlu, ukuba bekusiya ngam, bendiya kumbamba ngesandla uMphathiswa ngomsebenzi athe wabonisa ukuba angawenza ethanda. [Kwaqhwatywa.] Kodwa ngenxa yokuba ndingekaqiniseki, ndisafuna ukuhamba naye kancinci, ndimjongile. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[Mr P NTSHIQELA: Chairperson, standing in front of you is Phumelele Ntshiqela. Minister, Deputy Minister, and all hon members of this august House, if I were at liberty to do as I pleased, I would shake the Minister's hand for a job well done. [Applause.] However, I am not sure yet, as I still want to observe progress a little bit, and have a closer look at his way of doing things.]
Cope is gravely concerned about the lack of visibility of the Department of Arts and Culture in promoting and achieving social cohesion in our country. [Interjections.] President Zuma is right in seeing arts and culture as the glue that holds us together and harnesses our values in order to contribute to the identity of our nation. However, these words are not translated into action. Our country had two national events in 2011, where opportunities existed to forge a common identity, but we failed our people.
Recently, when thousands of mainly young people booed Ms De Lille while she was trying to deliver ... [Interjections.]
Andimazi nokuba akendanga na bethuna ndixoleleni. [I do not know whether she is married or not; please, people, forgive me.]
While she was trying to deliver a message on Human Rights Day, President Jacob Zuma, who was sitting on the stage, did not even try to intervene. Yet again, on Freedom Day he failed to rebuke those who were heckling speakers from opposition parties. There is a gulf between what the President is preaching and what he is practising.
Our national days are sowing the worst kind of division, which threatens social cohesion. [Interjections.]
Ndiyasibeth' isiNgesi, tata. [Kwahlekwa.] [I can speak English, sir. [Laughter.]]
On Human Rights Day last year fists flew in Sharpeville in the presence of the Deputy President. We know our history and we should be addressing the carry-over from that history and not allow it to be a terrain of perpetual confrontation, which undermines nation-building. [Interjections.]
Ndiyakusithetha ungaqondi. [Kwahlekwa.] [When I speak English, you will not understand me. [Laughter.]]
Cope - the real one - ... [Laughter.] ... believes this will only happen when the ruling party stops politicising national events. This will only happen when the ruling party stops monopolising our liberation history. [Interjections.]
Heyi! Aba babhala isiNgesi, basibhalile. Ndisibhale ngesiXhosa ukuze babheke esikolweni. [Kwahlekwa.] [Oh! Those who have written English have written it. I wrote it in isiXhosa so that they could go to school. [Laughter.]]
This will only happen when the ruling party stops using national days as a platform to stir up division and heighten animosity.
Andazi noba eli gama lilungile na. [Kwahlekwa.] [I am not sure whether this is the correct word. [Laughter.]]
The ruling party will certainly have to do a great deal of soul-searching.
We would like to commend the Minister of Arts and Culture once more for interjecting on Freedom Day and scolding the howlers for their lack of discipline. We agree with the Minister that they were disrespecting him as programme director and disrespecting the importance of the day by violating our Constitution and my rights.
The real Cope ... [Interjections.] ... would like to see the speeding up of the changing of offensive names, such as "Kaffirkraalkoppie", which are not acceptable in our democracy. These names remain an insult in our community and democracy.
We would also like to urge the department to allocate more funds to the Windybrow Theatre and suchlike. Also consider the Samora Machel Monument because of its ... [Laughter.] [Interjections.]
Noba uyatshela, noba uyashela! [Uwelewele.] [Whatever language you speak! [Interjections.]]
You have one minute, hon member.
That's okay. To be able to implement their comprehensive ... [Interjections.]
Abanye ke bamazi lo Machel ngegama, kanti bendiphaya mna ngokwam. [Some know this Machel by name only, but I was there personally.]
Cope, the real one, ... [Interjections.] ... requests the department to convince South Africans that it has what it takes to contribute to economic growth and job creation. Ngaloo mazwi [With these words] Cope, the real one, supports the Budget Vote. Thank you. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
Chairperson, the role of the Department of Arts and Culture is often underestimated in the broader context of government activities. It is, therefore, necessary for the department to aim for and achieve its objective of developing and preserving South African arts and culture to ensure social cohesion and nation-building.
In line with the objectives of the New Growth Path, the department must implement strategies that will allow the department's projects to be a catalyst for job creation. It is also important that the department addresses its own very high vacancy rate of 26,8% and a comprehensive recruitment plan must be adopted and implemented.
The IFP wishes to compliment the department on its community library services and conditional grant initiatives. We want, however, to encourage the department to ensure that the guidelines for the allocation and monitoring of the project are finalised and made public as soon as possible.
The department will find it difficult to achieve its overall aims if it continues to fail to meet its targets. The department, for instance, set itself the target of funding over 600 projects via investing in the Culture subprogramme; however, it has not met this target. The subprogramme was suspended after receiving unfavorable audit reports. The hon Minister will have to inform us what will be done to ensure the sustainability of this programme. It is of great importance that the department's financial management practices are improved and streamlined.
Lastly, the IFP is excited about the newly established performing arts programmes, which aim to give vulnerable groups access to the arts, culture and heritage. The involvement of schools, and especially the establishment of a research hub and centres or platforms for dialogue, are commendable. The decrease of 22,5% in the budget of this subprogramme is, however, of concern.
The IFP is heartened by the department's plan to establish a National Centre for Human Language Technologies. The IFP has always been in favour of promoting all our languages equally. This is certainly a step in the right direction. The increase in the budget for PanSALB is to be welcomed, even though it should have been more.
The IFP supports this Budget Vote. Thank you. [Applause.]
Voorsitter, agb Minister en Adjunkminister, agb lede en almal teenwoordig, ek groet u almal wat vandag hier is. Soos die spreukwoord s, "Rome is nie in een dag gebou nie", en so moet ons ook nie vinger wys na die een of die ander hier nie. Ons is hier as lede van die Parlement om 'n verskil te maak onder die burgers van Suid-Afrika.
Die administrasie van die Departement van Kuns en Kultuur gaan steeds voort om algemene bestuurs- en gesentraliseerde steundienste aan departementele kernprogramme te verskaf ten einde 'n bemagtigende omgewing te skep vir die bereiking van departementele doelwitte.
Hierdie program bied spesifiek strategiese en bedryfsbestuursteun aan departementele programme en groepe om doeltreffende en doelmagtige moniterings- en beoordelingsprosesse binne die departement te verseker. Die departement gebruik die Administrasieprogram om finansile bestuur, finansile administrasie en goeie regering ooreenkomstig goeie praktyke te ontwikkel, en ook om dit uit te voer en in stand te hou. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Ms L N MOSS: Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister, hon members and everyone present, I greet all of you here today. As the saying goes, "Rome was not built in a day" and therefore we should not point fingers at one another. We are here as Members of Parliament to make a difference to the lives of the citizens of South Africa.
The administration of the Department of Arts and Culture continues to provide general management and centralised support services to key departmental projects in order to create an empowering environment for the attainment of departmental goals.
This programme provides, in particular, strategic and management support to departmental programmes and groups to ensure appropriate monitoring and assessment processes in the department. The department applies the Administration programme to developfinancial management, financial administration and good governance in line with good practices, and also to implement and maintain them.]
The expenditure of the department grew at an average annual rate of 15,5%, from R1,6 billion in 2007-08 to R2,4 billion in 2010-11. The growth was mainly due to additional spending on capital projects, such as developing Freedom Park as a facility, upgrading and maintaining museums, and improving public and community library services. The Administration programme has been allocated a budget of R178,8 million for 2011-12, which is an increase from the previous financial year.
Earlier this year, the department had 35 vacancies. As we speak today, the department has already appointed a director-general, as the Minister was saying. So, halala, department! Halala! So well done, department! Well done!
HON MEMBERS: Halala! [Well done!]
The department has just recently advertised over 10 posts. Most of these posts are in the Administration programme and have been approved as part of the revised organisational structure. The department has done so in response to a call made by the President during the state of the nation address for all government departments to fill all vacant posts by midyear.
The department continues to upgrade all its public entities and has allocated to this R455,6 million in 2011-12, R483 million in 2012-13 and R509,5 million in the 2013-14 financial year. In 2009, the department completed the construction of the new National Library building in Pretoria at a cost of R374 million, and the second phase of Freedom Park was completed in 2010-11 at a cost of R700 million.
Arts and Culture's budget provides additional allocations of R105,7 million for the 2011-12 financial year, mainly for conditions of service; transfers to the National Film and Video Foundation to develop the local film industry and create jobs; municipal and accommodation charges; institutional support and capacity building for the National Library of South Africa and the South African Library for the Blind; operational costs of the Bloemfontein National Museum; and bursaries for Heritage Studies.
Administration programme spending has increased at an average annual rate of 11,2% from R129,6 million in 2007-08 to R178 million in 2010-11. It is expected to increase at an average annual rate of 5% over the medium term to reach R206,3 million. During 2010-11, the allocation for goods and services has increased by R23,3 million due to a virement mainly for the payment of leases and municipal services.
Suid-Afrika is die tuiste van 'n unieke en diverse kunshandwerknywerheid. Handwerkkunstenaars het oor die jare 'n lewendige erfenis ten opsigte van die kunshandwerknywerheid opgebou deur natuurlike hulpbronne en herwinbare produkte soos, onder meer, plastieksakke, papier, kartondose en draad vanuit alle gemeenskappe te gebruik.
Hoewel die kunshandwerknywerheid geleidelik gegroei het van die blote uitdrukking van individuele vaardighede tot entrepreneurskap, is daar vir praktisyns steeds geen beskerming teen uitbuiting nie. Die nywerheid maak nie voorsiening vir billike winsvoordele of vir deelname aan die kunshandwerkekonomie of -mark vanuit die perspektief van landelike ontwikkeling nie.
Saam moet ons dit verander. Die departement moet weer streekskantore in die lewe roep of vestig waar plaaslike inwoners om hulp kan aanklop. Pretoria is te ver. Daar is nege provinsies - Gauteng is nie die enigste provinsie nie. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[South Africa is home to a unique and diverse arts and crafts industry. Arts and crafts artists have established a vibrant heritage of arts and crafts over the years by making use of natural resources and recyclable products, for example plastic bags, paper, cartons and wire, which are to be found in all communities.
Although the arts and crafts industry has gradually grown from being a the mere expression of individual skills to entrepreneurship, practitioners still have no protection against exploitation. From a rural development perspective, the industry does not make provision for fair profit gains or for participation in the arts and crafts economy or market.
We have to work together to change that. The department must reinstitute regional offices where local residents can go for assistance. Pretoria is too far. There are nine provinces - Gauteng is not the only province. [Applause.]]
The department supports good governance by promoting efficient record management in organs of state by approving submitted filing plans, systems and disposal authorities, and by issuing at least seven guidelines or circulars per year through the National Archives.
Die departement sal billiker toegang tot biblioteekbronne verseker deur teen Maart 2012 'n beleidsraamwerk vir norme en standaarde vir gemeenskapsbiblioteke te ontwikkel en te implementeer.
Laastens, wil ek afsluit deur die Departement van Kuns en Kultuur en ook die erfenispraktisyns wat die sektor se potensiaal en vermo vir ekonomiese groei en diensgeleenthede ontsluit, te bedank. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[The department will ensure improved access to library resources by developing and implementing a policy framework for the norms and standards of community libraries by March 2012.
Finally, I want to conclude by thanking the Department of Arts and Culture, and also the heritage practitioners who unlock and develop the potential and capabilities of the sector for economic growth and service opportunities.]
The ANC supports the Budget Vote. Thank you very much.
Chairperson, Minister of Arts and Culture, other Ministers present, Deputy Ministers, chairperson of the portfolio committee, and members of the public present in this room, nation-building is not an easy task. It is the collective effect of the small steps that we take as a nation on a daily basis that will determine the kind of South Africa we shall become.
No nation can define itself in terms of its geographic borders alone. Arts and culture are the essence of nation-building and social cohesion. A nation is not defined merely by its geographic borders, but by the manner in which it defines itself in terms of arts and culture.
Countries all over the world use arts and culture as a vital tool in promoting a stronger social fabric. Therefore it is important for government to play an enabling role to ensure that the arts and culture in South Africa flourish.
Understandably, because we have so many other pressing socioeconomic issues and challenges, the Arts and Culture Budget Vote gets only a tiny slice of the overall national budget. However, the UDM still feels that in each budget cycle our indigenous languages do not get the attention they deserve. Not enough is being done by government to invest in the development of indigenous languages as business languages. We hope that a portion of the R38,1 million in the department's savings will be invested in the preservation of indigenous languages.
Making matters worse is the poor state of public libraries in many peri- urban and rural parts of our country. Our public libraries are not just underresourced, but severely lacking in indigenous language material.
The UDM supports the department in its initiatives to make arts and culture a sustainable aspect of South African society. The UDM supports the Budget Vote. Thank you.
Chairperson, hon Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashatile, other hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers here present, MECs from provinces and heads of departments, hon chairperson of the portfolio committee, Mme Sunduza, and other members of the portfolio committee, hon members of the House, managers of our department and its entities, board members, distinguished guests, and ladies and gentlemen, I greet you all.
This year we celebrated the 17th anniversary of our freedom under the theme, "Working together to unite the nation, promote democracy and protect freedom". This was in recognition of the journey that we have travelled since the watershed 27 April 1994 elections, which ushered in the current democratic order.
Who can forget the excitement throughout the country, and especially at the Union Buildings, when our founding father and icon, former President Nelson Mandela, took the oath of office on the podium on 10 May 1994.
In his speech to the nation on that historic occasion, former President Mandela declared, amongst other things:
We have triumphed in the effort to implant hope in the breasts of the millions of our people. We enter into a covenant that we shall build the society in which all South Africans, both black and white, will be able to walk tall, without any fear in their hearts, assured of their inalienable right to human dignity - a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world.
Focusing on the challenges ahead, former President Mandela went on to say:
We understand it still that there is no easy road to freedom.
We know it well that none of us acting alone can achieve success.
We must therefore act together as a united people, for national reconciliation, for nation building, for the birth of a new world.
In concluding his inaugural speech, former President Mandela declared:
Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world.
Let freedom reign.
The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement.
As we celebrated our 17th year of freedom, we were, therefore, reminded of the clarion call of our founding father who committed us to the building of a "society in which all South Africans will be able to walk tall without fear in their hearts, assured of their inalienable right to human dignity".
This government, whose foundation was laid by former President Mandela, therefore remains committed to the creation of a united, democratic, nonracial, nonsexist and prosperous nation.
It is not by accident that our Constitution also enjoins us to build a society based on the values of human dignity, equality and advancement of human rights and freedom.
The task of realising all these values within the collective of government is allocated to this department - the Department of Arts and Culture - as the lead department in this respect. It is up to this department to make sure that the necessary infrastructure, resources and organisational framework are put in place to harness the energies of all South Africans in the creation of the rainbow nation, as envisaged by our founding father.
Of course, with the history of decades and centuries of entrenched racism under successive colonial and apartheid regimes, the task of building a united, cohesive and inclusive society was never going to be an easy one.
The history of human society has also shown that whenever human beings face various social, economic and political challenges it is always easy to seek refuge in racism, tribalism, regionalism and other such backward tendencies, instead of confronting the challenges ahead. South Africa is, no exception in this regard, as we have seen in the recent past, about two years ago, with the so-called xenophobia violence. Such tendencies do rear their heads from time to time.
Instead of allowing our diversity of race, culture, language and heritage to be a source of division, we must make these the building blocks of our unity in diversity. The task of building a united South African nation can also not be divorced from that of building an economically competitive and prosperous nation. A nation that does not know its history will have difficulty in mapping a way forward. A nation that is not proud of its heritage, culture, language and the best of its traditions will find it hard to compete with its peers.
Across the globe nations that are leaders in economy, technology, sports, arts, music, etc, tend to be those that are anchored very strongly in their heritage and cultural foundation. If you look at China, Japan, Germany, France and others all over the world, you will see that the one other thing that they have in common is their pride in their history, culture and heritage.
Since the Social Cohesion Colloquium which was held in 2009, we have intensified our social cohesion campaign. The campaign is based, amongst other things, on the following pillars: diversity, inclusivity, ensuring that we have access to basic services, and the promotion of values that define the kind of society that we seek to build.
As we implement this campaign we will be all over the country - in the streets, at taxi ranks, on trains and in shopping centres - talking to our communities and hosting, in these communities, conversations about what makes us as South Africans unique. This campaign will culminate in the national summit during the course of July, which will coincide with Mandela Week.
One of the instruments of fostering national pride and patriotism is the popularisation of our national symbols. Who can deny that one of the success stories of our hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup was the promotion of our national flag?
Today, as we mark 100 days before the start of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, which will be held in New Zealand, we commit ourselves, again together with the Department of Sport and Recreation, to making sure that we encourage South Africans again to fly the flag and sing the national anthem with pride.
Another important, though often contentious, project for redressing the imbalances of the past and contributing to nation-building is that of geographic name changes. There is absolutely no argument about the fact that, at the time of our freedom, colonialism and apartheid had obliterated most of the indigenous names of important places and replaced them with the preferred names of those who had conquered. These were often the names of their heroes, such as army generals and governors.
The process of geographic name change which ensued after the birth of democracy brought a lot of unhappiness to others who felt that some of the important parts of their history were being obliterated.
As a result of this recognition, our department embarked on a process of wide-scale consultations to find a win-win approach. After consultations involving a wide range of stakeholders, a report was compiled and is ready for presentation at the national workshop.
The workshop will be held during the course of this month, June 2011, and we hope that out of this we will emerge with an approach that accommodates the desire for change, while catering for the concerns of those who fear that their history is being lost.
We accept that we can't change the fact that Hendrick Verwoerd was a player in the history of our country, even though we don't agree with his ideology. Therefore we have been ordered by the Deputy President to go and find his statue, and to find out who stole the statue from Midvaal. So, as part of this reconciliation we must find that statue. I'm not apportioning any blame. [Laughter.]
Our department remains committed to the important task of promoting a culture of reading and writing. Community libraries are crucial in carrying out this task. I am pleased to announce that we are consolidating the implementation of the Community Libraries Recapitalisation Programme. The first three years of this project have been successfully completed. We have allocated an additional R1,6 billion over the next three years to expand access to libraries and information services, especially in previously disadvantaged communities.
Since the inception of the programme three years ago, over 600 professional and support staff members have been appointed in community libraries across the country. In addition, 170 libraries have been upgraded and 20 new libraries have been built. In an effort to bridge the digital divide, public Internet access facilities are also being established at these libraries.
Part of who we are as South Africans is expressed through our languages and our shared embrace of the multilingual nation. Freedom of expression and creativity can only take full effect if we recognise the importance of mother-tongue languages and the right of our people to speak, read and write in the languages of their choice.
To give effect to the constitutional obligation concerning multilingualism, we will this year submit the South African Languages Bill. This Bill seeks to promote the inclusive use of all official languages of South Africa, and to ensure unhindered, equal access to government services and programmes, and education, knowledge and information. Through this Bill we are pursuing the entrenchment of language equity and language rights, so that both national unity and democracy are promoted.
In pursuit of multilingualism, together with the National Library of SA, we have also engaged in a vigorous effort to republish our indigenous language literary classics. In December last year we launched 20 additional titles as part of this initiative.
We are continuing with the Indigenous Language Publishing Programme, a partnership with the SA Book Development Council, to produce new material in nine previously marginalised indigenous languages. The programme offers publishing opportunities to emerging writers and support to independent small publishers. So far the programme has produced titles such as A hi fambe munghana wa mina in Xitsonga Tikhatsi Tekugcina, in Siswati, Ziyodlula Izinsizwa in Zulu, Boiteko Ba Ka in Sesotho.
In further promoting multilingualism, we have partnered with the CSIR Meraka Institute on the Lwazi Project, which aims to develop a multilingual telephone-based information system aimed at improving communication, amongst others, between government and communities; and at facilitating access to reliable information, regardless of the location of the citizen, whether in urban or remote rural areas the level of literacy, and the language of choice. More than R14 million has been allocated to this project, which will target mainly underdeveloped parts of our country. This project will be available in all the official languages to show inclusiveness of all South African citizens and will promote language preservation.
As the Presidential Hotline has shown, South African citizens place great value on being able to communicate with government by using the telephone. The Lwazi Project will ensure that communication becomes significantly more available, affordable and efficient for government and community communication. This project will be implemented hand in hand with the Department of Basic Education.
The South African book sector has become globally competitive and our writers continue to command respect across world. Today we have two writers who recently won international literary prizes. I would like to congratulate Ms Duduzile Cynthia Jele, winner of the Commonwealth Writer's Prize, Africa Region, with her debut novel entitled Happiness is a Four Letter Word. [Applause.] I also extend our hearty congratulations to Ms Lauren Beukes who recently came back from the UK with the Arthur C Clarke Award for her book titled Zoo City, beating some of the well-known, international bestselling authors. [Applause.]
The Department of Arts and Culture is committed to the preservation, development and promotion of South African literature. Our strategic objective in this regard is to promote a culture of reading and writing in all South African languages.
Our department, in collaboration with the SA Book Development Council, established the very first National Book Week, with resounding success, during the course of September 2010, and this will be repeated during the course of 2011. This platform is one of those through which government supports the book sector and civil society. This year the National Book Week will take place from 5 to 11 September.
The hon Minister has already touched on the national film and video sector, and therefore I will not go into that.
As custodians of the vision of Nelson Mandela, Chief Albert Luthuli, Oliver Reginald Tambo, Yusuf Dadoo, Helen Joseph and many other esteemed leaders of our glorious movement, we shall continue to champion the cause of the creation of a truly united, democratic, nonracial, nonsexist, prosperous South Africa. This is an ideal former President Mandela was prepared to live for, and if need be, die for. We dare not fail him. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mutshamaxitulu, Yindlu ya wena leyo hlonipheka, Holobye wa Ndzawulo ya Vutshila na Mfuwo, nkul Paul Mashatile, Xandla xa n'wina, nkul Joe Phaahla, mufambisinkulu wa ndzawulo lontshwa na vatirhikuloni va yena, hi ri hoyohoyo eka xitulu xa n'wina lexi nga na ntirho wo hlawuleka na tinghitsi. Hi ri a swi ve tano tatana. [Va phokotela.] (Translation of Xitsonga paragraph follows.)
[Mr D W MAVUNDA: Chairperson, the august House, the Minister of Arts and Culture, hon Paul Mashatile, his deputy, hon Joe Phaahla, the new director- general in the department and his colleagues, we congratulate the director- general on his position, which requires special work and enthusiasm. We say that that should continue, sir.] [Applause.]]
Chairperson, first and foremost allow me to congratulate the department for exercising its constitutional mandate by producing the first draft document of a national policy on South African heritage, among other things, since the inception of our democracy.
The necessity for a national policy that promotes our living heritage arises from the historical imbalances and the manner in which our heritage was actively discouraged in the history of apartheid. They ensured that the use and promotion of indigenous languages, the practice and promotion of the performing arts and rituals, and the social practices of various social groups were discouraged in all forms, particularly by the missionaries.
The idea of a living heritage that encompasses intangibles such as oral tradition, rituals, belief systems and indigenous methods of safeguarding cultural heritage resources has been a key defining quality of human identity, life experience and cultural expression throughout history.
Heritage Promotion is one of the Department of Arts and Culture's programmes that aims to promote the appreciation of heritage by developing in the 2011-12 financial year new commemorative structures and national legacy projects that reflect South African history, such as the Sarah Baartman Centre of Remembrance in Hankey, the Women's Museum in East London, the Khoisan Heritage Route in all nine provinces, the Bhambatha Rebellion against the Poll Tax Legacy project, and the memorial of the Matola Raid in Maputo, to mention just a few.
The strategic objectives of this programme are to develop and monitor the implementation of the policy, legislation and strategic programmes for the identification, conservation and promotion of cultural heritage in order to promote socioeconomic development and social cohesion.
The ANC has long been acutely aware of the important role of heritage conservation and promotion in nation-building; hence at its Polokwane conference it recommended that ubuntu principles should be integrated into public policy so as to comprehensively correct the distortions and imbalances, not only in our heritage landscape but also in our social, economic and industrial relations. We emphasise, though, the need to restore the proud heritage of African people and the need to accommodate diversity in our national heritage.
Chair, we are therefore delighted to note that the department is implementing a digitisation policy for the preservation of heritage and national guidelines on digitising heritage resources. By so doing we believe that more jobs will be created.
It also aims to develop and monitor the implementation of policy, legislation and strategic direction for identifying, conserving and promoting cultural heritage. We will do an audit on intangible cultural heritage in South Africa in 2011.
Heritage, as we all know, is irreplaceable and nonrenewable, and the need to conserve it for posterity is extremely important. It has been noted that heritage resources also comprise sites associated with living heritage and objects that are of cultural significance.
Chairperson, one of the most important aspects of the national Heritage Resources Agency is the opportunity it provides for communities to participate in the identification, conservation and management of our heritage.
There are two processes that are involved in the assigning of national heritage status to sites, namely grading and declaration. I will not elaborate on them, but allow me to indicate that after their grading by the communities and all relevant stakeholders, and the declaration thereof, the decision is gazetted in accordance with sections 9 and 27 of the National Heritage Resources Act, Act 25 of 1999.
Let us, of course, not forget one of the anti-apartheid activists, Arthur Goldreich, the artist and designer who created sets for King Kong, the acclaimed South African jazz musical that featured an all-black cast.
Chairperson, through the Department of Arts and Culture we would like to see Liliesleaf Farm in Rivonia, which was provided by the late Goldreich as a secret refuge for ANC activists - later it was raided by the police and a large number of activists were arrested - and which has been restored and turned into a museum detailing the events that led up to the Rivonia Raid, properly maintained and looked after. It is one of those museums that promote our living heritage.
On Programme 5: Heritage Promotion, we would like to see more funds channelled to heritage initiatives and projects such as Heritage Month and the repatriation of South African cultural and heritage objects. Also, more funds should be channelled to the registration and popularisation of national symbols through public awareness campaigns.
We would also like to see the department putting more funds into the SA Geographical Names Council so that it can facilitate the process of name changes at a more convincing pace, before our affected communities become impatient. The Deputy Minister has also alluded to this.
Over the medium term this programme has received an additional R29,9 million, mainly for bursaries for heritage studies. We appreciate your plans to promote heritage by developing for 2011-12 new commemorative structures and national legacy projects that reflect South African history.
We are not surprised that, of the six programmes comprising the Arts and Culture budget, the allocation to the Heritage Promotion Programme is the biggest, at more than one third, 36,2%, of the total 2010-11 budget.
However, we are concerned about the medium-term expenditure which is expected to decrease from R884,3 million to R851,1 million, at an average annual rate of 1,2%.
Mutshamaxitulu, va tolo va te ku dya ngopfu a hi ku hlula ndlala. Ya mina ndzima ndzi yi khatsa kwala. [Chairperson, there is an old saying to the effect that talking too much does not mean one is more knowledgeable about issues. I therefore conclude my speech here!]
The ANC supports the Budget Vote.
Chairperson, I'm beginning to think that the economic recession being felt all over the world is starting to become an excuse employed by different departments that have failed to deliver on their given mandates. I'm happy that this afternoon this particular department did not make such an excuse. [Applause.]
In saying that, I acknowledge the efforts of the National Language Service and the editing of 1 000 official documents. However, this has not been felt at many other levels and has not been advocated well. More often than not you will find official government documents written only in English and Afrikaans, 17 years after our attainment of freedom and democracy. I say that this is absolutely unacceptable and it is the continuation of the legacy of a colonial and apartheid past.
Building on this point, I have not witnessed any progress in the promotion of South African literature written in indigenous South African languages. It is almost as if indigenous South Africans have no role in the development of literature and have no stories to tell.
I would therefore love to know what the department is doing to promote South African black languages in literature. I would like to urge the department to embark on the promotion of our own storytelling as part of the preservation of our heritage. I would like to walk into a bookshop and find children's stories in Setswana, Sepedi, isiXhosa, etc.
I acknowledge that the department awarded bursaries to 102 postgraduate students to enrol in language studies. This is commendable, but more needs to be done. [Applause.]
I noted the director-general's utterances in the annual report that the department practises a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and that several officials have been suspended. However, I submit that zero tolerance cannot be practised as an aftereffect, as that changes very little. I would like to know what systems the department has established in order to ensure, for instance, that the irregular expenditure of R60 million does not happen again.
Why was there a deviation from the set rules in the first place? Has the investigating by the Special Investigations Unit been completed and what has come out of it?
The Auditor-General's opinion is that the accounting officer did not comply with the Public Finance Management Act and that there are no effective and transparent control systems in the department. This is a very serious state of affairs for any department and I would hope that this has been remedied.
The UCDP suggests that Mmabana Centres be established in the different provinces of South Africa in order to promote arts and culture, and in order to add to the number of good artists such as Seiphemo, Chweneemang and Mogotsi, who are the products of Mmabana.
We support this Budget Vote. I thank you. [Applause.]
Eka Holobye wa Vutshila na Mfuwo, Tat Paul Mashatile, Xandla xa Holobye wa Vutshila na Mfuwo, Dok Joe Phaahla, Mutshamaxitulu, nkul Sundhuza, Swirho swa Palamende, vuyeni hinkwabyo, ndza mi losa. (Translation of Xitsonga paragraph follows.)
[Mrs F F MUSHWANA: Chairperson, Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashatile, Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Dr Joe Phaahla, hon Sunduza, Members of Parliament and all guests, I greet you.]
It is a privilege to focus on the topic of language in our budget. Language is what we are. All our families and communities have languages.
This is particularly the case where we have had 17 years of post-apartheid rule. The area of language is really critical after independence. Many revolutionaries and language experts have warned us to watch carefully what is happening in this sphere, particularly when it comes to indigenous languages. In this regard liberation would be incomplete without the recognition and popular use of languages, particularly of the formerly oppressed people.
The Reconstruction and Development Programme affirms and promotes the rich and diverse expression of South African languages, so that we can enjoy freedom of expression and creativity, free from interference. This commitment recognises the huge effect the malign legacy of apartheid and colonialism has had on suppressing indigenous languages.
In the sphere of language the use of English in the economy continues to dominate. To grapple with the meaning of liberation and the role and power of language in society are critical for society as a whole.
Since 1994, some young parents have been frustrating their children's opportunity to learn their indigenous languages due to a perceived association of English with prestige, status, knowledge and future opportunities. They say, "Oh, do you know that my child can speak English and Afrikaans? I'm proud, you know."
Language is not spoken just for the purpose of human communication. It is about power relations. The ambition of mothers and parents to see their children not knowing their indigenous languages confirms that we have not transformed the economy of South Africa.
As indicated in our 8 January Statement, we must make the decisive shift to meaningful transformation and implement a programme that will ensure that the fruits of our political liberation are shared amongst all our people. This is the Freedom Charter's clarion call. In this regard political liberation is incomplete without the liberation of language.
The dominance of English in the economy reflects an unfinished agenda to bring about economic transformation. The ATM printouts, for example, are only in English. This key task is relevant, particularly since we have declared this the year for consolidating people's power for the national democratic society, as we move towards 100 years of selfless struggle.
At its 2007 national conference, the real conference, ... [Applause.] ... the ANC recommended that indigenous languages be promoted in all our schools, with the intention that learners be taught in their mother tongue. This will certainly ensure that matric results improve drastically.
Historically suppressed languages need to be promoted. We also need to respect other people's languages so that the language issue does not divide us. South Africa is a multilingual society with 11 official languages. ANC policy continues to recognise, protect and develop all languages, and ensure that all citizens have access to all spheres of the nation's life.
The Constitution provides the primary legislative mandate of the Department of Arts and Culture. Section 30 of the Constitution relates directly to the mandate of the department and states that -
Everyone has the right to use the language and to participate in the cultural life of their choice ...
In this regard the department's policies also focus strongly on promoting the country's official languages and enhancing linguistic diversity in line with the Constitution. No one, when exercising these rights, however, may do so in a manner inconsistent with any provision of the Bill of Rights.
The Constitution protects the right of all South Africans to use any South African language of their choice in dealings with the state. This is a right to ensure that delivery happens.
The removal from all spheres of the nation's life of linguistic barriers to understanding and participation will call for the employment of more interpreters. [Interjections.] Yes, employing more interpreters is job creation.
ANC policy aims to further the development of all our languages in all aspects of life in order to create respect for different languages and not to divide us.
The Arts and Culture budget presents a unique opportunity to all South Africans to celebrate their rich cultural diversity. The ANC is proud and privileged to lead a country that has a rich, diverse, intangible cultural heritage, such as cultural expression, oral traditions, craftsmanship, social practices, rituals and festivals.
South Africa, kha ri ambe [let us speak], asikhulume [let us speak], sithetha [let us speak], re bua [let us speak], hi vulavula [let us speak], let us speak and laat ons praat [let us speak]!
Our South African linguistic diversity must unite us and not divide us as a nation. May all South Africans make it their business to know the languages of other people in this rainbow nation. For your own sake you need to know other people's languages.
This budget must be backed by economic transformation to build an equal and caring society. We as the ANC support Budget Vote 14, and I thank you. [Applause.]
Thank you, Chair. Hon Minister, colleagues and guests, I greet you. Ndi masiari avhu?i. [Good afternoon.]
The department's mandate is to develop and preserve South African arts and culture, through which we can ensure social cohesion and nation-building, which is critical for our country.
A zwi tei u dzhielwa fhasi sa izwi zwi zwa ndeme kha vhutshilo hashu, na uri zwa vhu?hogwa ndi uri ndi lushaka ?e lune ra ?o lu siela uvhu vhufa? [This is not to be taken lightly as it has an effect on our lives and, more importantly, what kind of society we shall bequeath this inheritance to.]
The DA stands firm on the issue of combating corruption. We therefore express our discontent with the fact that the Auditor-General's report reveals an irregular expenditure of R60 million in this department.
We also note the number of forensic audits that have been undertaken and have led to the dismissal of several employees of the department. The cost of these forensic audits is close to R2,5 million. We commend these audits.
It is our contention, however, that dismissals alone are just not sufficient. We therefore recommend that criminal charges be laid against those employees. Action against them should also include the forfeiture of all their ill-gotten assets.
It was pointed out by the Auditor-General that this department seems to have failed to adhere to basic requirements of the Public Finance Management Act. The noncompliance with regard to applicable legislation is not acceptable. The Auditor-General said that in this regard, and I quote:
The accounting officer did not ensure that the department has and maintains an effective, efficient and transparent system and controls regarding performance management which describes and represents, on a programme level, how the entity's processes of performance planning, monitoring, measurement, review and reporting will be conducted.
It is therefore no wonder that this department failed to meet some of its targets. More worrisome is the fact that the department could not furnish adequate reasons for failing to meet its targets and that 90% of the targets were not time bound in specifying the time period or deadline for delivery.
Such a state of affairs cannot be allowed to continue and measures must be taken urgently to fix this. Ri a fulufhela uri izwo zwi ?o dzhielwa n?ha ngauri ndi zwa vhu?hogwa nga maan?a. [We hope that these will be taken seriously because they are very important.]
It is encouraging to see that the department intends to start with the social dialogue and Bontle Ubuhle-Bethu programmes, which will be used to promote social cohesion.
We are also impressed by the savings that the department has identified in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework.
The department's infrastructure spending also needs a mention. The building of a new National Library in Pretoria and the completion of Freedom Park are commendable, as well as the commitment to upgrade the department's public entities.
I reiterate the call made by my colleague last year. It is important that the effort to develop and provide reading material in our indigenous languages should continue and be broadened, as language is one of the crucial elements in the effort to ensure social cohesion and nation- building and to develop arts and culture. Our public libraries need to be the focal point of these reading materials.
The establishment of the National Centre for Human Language Technologies by December and the production of nine sets of books in all official indigenous languages are targets worthy of praise.
Language diversity needs to be welcomed, as it showcases the richness of our cultural heritage. We therefore sadly note that the National Language Service seems to be continually getting the lowest budget.
The forensic investigation into the National Library of South Africa, which has been concluded, highlighted deficiencies and recommended an appropriate course of action to rectify such deficiencies. The forensic investigation cost the government and taxpayers R357 000. The question the DA and citizens of the country would like to ask is: Why is the Minister unwilling to reveal the outcome of the investigation? We cannot continue to wait for the director-general to decide when he will make up his mind. We need that information, hon Minister.
Hon Minister, your department's allocation under Programme 5 - which focuses mainly on assistance to museums - has its own problems. National museums do not get adequate funding from your department and resort to double-dipping. My question to the Minister, through you, Chair, is: Does your department purposely minimise funding to these institutions in order for them to get contributions and funding from the National Lottery Board?
If this is the case, worthy organisations which assist needy people of South Africa and which are not state-funded, cannot benefit from these allocations due to the department's inadequate funding of Programme 5, which deals with heritage promotion.
Sir, our international relations policy does not exist in respect of arts and culture. National treaties such as those with Norway and Spain, just to name two, have never been evaluated, are long overdue and need to be revisited in order to determine the extent of South Africa's cultural and economic growth.
We have also noted that the same organisations keep on benefiting from the department's programmes. My question to the Minister, through you, Chair, is: If we don't evaluate the outcomes, how do we determine what our return on investment is or will be?
Let me conclude by saying that we are all aware of the racial, cultural and religious divisions that still exist in our country. We should, therefore, particularly as Members of Parliament, stand firm in promoting social cohesion, and send out a clear message to all citizens that they should live in harmony with each other as fellow South Africans. Ro livhuwa. [Thank you.]
Chairperson, hon Minister Paul Mashatile, hon Deputy Minister Dr Phaahla, the director-general, Members of Parliament and all distinguished guests, allow me to make a few remarks about the comments made by our friends from the opposition parties.
One thing I have to commend about the DA members, hon Lotriet and hon Smalle, is that they are always with us in the portfolio committee meetings. Cope and the IFP also are always there, even when we go out on oversight visits. They speak about what they have experienced and what the department is doing.
Nevertheless, hon Lotriet, regarding the challenges you have highlighted, I think the director-general, who is brand-new, out of the box, is here and he is going to attend to those challenges. [Interjections.] Yes, he will attend to these challenges, like the current lack of financial support for artists and performers.
Hon Ntshiqela of Cope, you are with us when the committee goes out. I'm just wondering why you want to bring a political campaign into this debate. I think it's utterly irrelevant. Maybe the ANC will teach Cope how to cope with such values.
We thank the IFP for supporting the Budget Vote. Hon Matladi of the UCDP, we miss you a lot in the portfolio committee. I think that if you can attend the portfolio committee meetings more regularly, you will be able to go along with us regarding what we are doing. [Interjections.] Yes!
We also take note of the comments about our not using our own languages. I thought you were going to debate in Setswana so that you could promote that language! That is why the department is here and promotes that.
Nevertheless, thank you all for supporting the Budget Vote.
Now, on a serious note, let me say that my point of departure is that the Budget Vote debate on Arts and Culture must start with our policies. At the 52nd National Conference of the ANC in Polokwane in December 2007, we reaffirmed our belief that arts and culture are the cornerstones of any national democratic society and a fundamental pillar in the transformation of the society. The ANC therefore recognises that social transformation cannot be separated from the revolutionary role and nature of culture, and the revolutionary role that it plays in the transformation of any society.
To promote cultural development and heritage is part of the ANC's Reconstruction and Development Programme, RDP, for poverty alleviation, which started as early as 1995 and 1996.
Also, it affirms and promotes the rich and diverse expression of South African culture. It promotes the development of a unified, national culture representing the aspirations of all South Africa's people.
We commend the R60 million allocated by the Minister to the youth.
It further ensures that the resources and facilities for both the production and the appreciation of the arts and culture are made available to all and not just a few. It is just that there are constraints on funding.
It also conserves, promotes and revitalises our national cultural heritage in order for it to be accessible to all communities.
Hon member from the UCDP, I want to demonstrate my culture by speaking my own language now.
Mutshamaxitulu, mpimanyeto wa nhluvukiso wa swa mfuwo wu nyiketa nkarhi wa kahle wo sasekisa vumaki, tiphurojeke, na vuleteri lebyi faneleke. Mutameri wa Nkwama u tekela enhlokweni nkoka wa vuvekisi eka mfuwo leswaku ku tumbuluxiwa mitirho, nhluvukiso wa swikili na ku nyikiwa matimba eka swa ikhonomi. Ntiyiso lowu wu fambisana na mbulavulo wa tiko wa Riphabiliki lowu nga vuriwa hi Phuresidente loko a pfula Palamende a vula leswaku u lava ku tumbuluxiwa mitirho.
Mfuwo wu hluvuka hi ku tirhisa maendlelo ya vaaki. A ku na mfuwo lowu nga tiyimelaka hi woxe handle ko hluvuka no cinca. Vumbiwa bya Riphabiliki ra Afrika Dzonga byi seketela swa nhluvukiso wa mfuwo wa hina hikwalaho a ku na ku hlangana ka matimba exikarhi ka Vumbiwa naswona a ku na ku hambana ka matimba exikarhi ka Vumbiwa bya hina na milawu ya mfuwo ya Ubuntu kumbe Botho.
Ntshunxeko wa hina tanihi vanhu wu ta langutiwa hi tlhelo ra nhluvukiso wa mifuwo ya hina. Nhluvukiso lowu a wu humeleli ntsena kambe wu dzime timitsu eka vaaki no nghenelela eka timhaka hinkwato ta vutomi. Wu katsa swiphemu swa nkoka swa mahanyelo na ikhonomi leswi tlhelaka swi khumba mabindzu na vumaki.
Vamanana va le makaya lavo tala va vona va endla vutshila, xikombiso, ku endla vuhlalu na ku vumba. Leswi hi swi vonile hi ri komiti ya photifoliyo loko hi yile eVenda eka Manana Noria Mabasa laha muako wa yena wu nga pfuriwa hi khale ka Xandla xa Holobye, Ntombazana Botha.
Lava i vamanana lava fanelaka ku seketeriwa. Vamanana lava va le makaya laha va hanyaka evuswetini lebyikulu. Va lava ku pfuniwa hi timali ku kota ku endla mitirho ya xiyimo xa le henhla leyi va nga kotaka ku kombisa ematikweni hinkwawo no pfuneta ku hluvukisa nhluvukiso wa swa ikhonomi.
Emugangeni wa ka hina laha ndzi humaka kona eka N'wamitwa vamanana va tirha mitirho hi mavoko hi ku khavisa. Ku na swin'wana leswi va swi endlaka swi na mfungho lowu va nge i Kaross. Swi kona eka tindhawu ta timbala ta vuhahisi bya swihahampfhuka bya misava, xikombiso, OR Tambo na Cape Town. Na kwala Palamende laha hi kumaka kona mathikiti xi kona xifaniso xa le khumbini lexi hayekiweke lexi nga tsariwa Currie Cup. Swi endliwa hi vamanana lava.
Vamanana lava a va dyondzanga xikolo. Va tshama ehansi va nava milenge emindzhutini va karhi va rhunga. Lexi vavisaka hi leswaku manana loyi a va rhangeleke hi lowo basa. U swi teka a ya swi xavisa a tlhela a xavisela matiko ya le handle hi nxavo wa le henhla. Vamanana lava a va kumi swo va hanyisa.
Hi rhandza ku kombela ndzawulo ku languta timhaka leti no tlhela yi nyika matimba eka vamanana lava hi ku va pfuneta hi timali. Vuhlalu lebyi ndzi nga byi ambala byi endliwa hi vamanana lava. A va dyondzanga kambe loko va endla nkhaviso u nga kala u vula leswaku va huma exikolweni. (Translation of Xitsonga paragraphs follows.)
[Chairperson, the allocation for cultural development provides a good opportunity to improve production, projects and the necessary training. The Treasury takes into consideration the importance of investing in culture to promote job creation, skills development and economic empowerment. This truth is in line with the state of the nation address delivered by the President during the opening of Parliament, when he said that job opportunities had to be created.
Culture develops by being people-oriented. No culture can be sustainable without development and change. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa supports the development of our cultures, and this is why there is no power struggle in respect of the Constitution and there is also no conflict of interest between the principles enshrined in the Constitution and the principles of ubuntu or botho.
Our freedom as a people will be perceived in terms of the development of our own cultures. This development cannot just happen, but is rooted in the community and its involvement in all spheres of life. It includes important facets of behaviour and economy, which further include trade and industry.
Most of the women in the rural areas are involved in the making of art work, for example, beadwork and pottery. We witnessed this with Mrs Noria Mabasa when, as a portfolio committee, we went on an oversight visit to Venda, where her building was opened by the former Deputy Minister, Ntombazana Botha.
These are women who need to be supported. These women in the rural areas live in abject poverty. They need to be assisted financially so that they can produce quality goods which they can showcase to the entire world and which will also promote economic development.
At the village where I hail from, N'wamitwa, women make decorations by hand. There are things they make that have a logo design known as Kaross. You'll find these at international airports, for example, OR Tambo and Cape Town. Here in Parliament, where we get our permits, there is even a portrait hanging on the wall entitled Currie Cup. It was made by these women.
These women are illiterate. They sit down with their legs stretched out in the shade and sew. What is so painful is that they are led by a white woman. She takes the artworks and sells them overseas at a higher price. These women do not get anything in return from which to make a living.
We would like to request the department to look into these matters and also to empower these women by assisting them financially. The beads that I am wearing were made by the women. They are illiterate, but when they make decorations, you might think they were trained.]
We acknowledge the support given by the Department of Arts and Culture to small entrepreneurs in the arts and culture area, especially in the craft section.
There is one thing I want to mention about practising our culture. We want to talk to our traditional leaders about the culture of "ukungenela" [widow is by force made to marry the younger brother of her deceased husband] and "ukutwala" [a girl is abducted and by force made to marry a man she has not chosen]. Girls and women have rights. Even a widow has the right to be protected by the Constitution. That has to change.
In conclusion, I have no doubt that we have a rich culture and heritage, and these need to be preserved and developed to ensure a better life for all. It is through this budget that we can do so. My culture and your culture constitute one nation. That is an important reference point for our nation, in the same way as unity in diversity is. The ANC wishes to support Budget Vote 14 on Arts and Culture.
Endzhaku ku tlhelela singe. Inkomu. [Backward, never! Thank you.] [Applause.]]
Chair, the Deputy Minister and I have taken copious notes of hon members' contributions. Therefore we don't have to respond to the contributions of members individually.
I think we should take the opportunity to thank all of them, starting with the chairperson, hon Sunduza, and all the hon members of the committee. We thank you very much.
Let me also thank the real Cope. [Laughter.] I think they have said that there is a dispute about which one is real, so we may need a referendum. [Laughter.]
There are issues raised by members that we have noted. I think, hon member Lotriet, that there is a lot of concern about the funding of the performing arts. This is something that we will look into. The national museums are something that we will look into.
With regard to film production, although there is additional funding from National Treasury, I'm sure we can also do with more resources in that respect.
Social security for artists is something that we are working on. We didn't dwell much on it today, but we hope that, towards the end of this financial year, we will be able to announce some kind of programme or package that we have worked out, with the private sector, for artists. We are busy with that.
I take it that all the parties support our budget - am I correct? [Interjections.] Thank you very much.
There is also concern about the funding of youth development. I know that we may need to look into that again. Earlier, when I started, I did say that one of the things we were doing was to reprioritise and realign our programmes and budgets. So we will be looking at those areas that deserve more funding.
However, some of the areas that we are looking at now require new funding, so we will have discussions with National Treasury on that.
We will be meeting with the Lotto people as well. Our view is that up to now the funding of the arts sector by the Lotto has been very haphazard, and we need to streamline it properly. We could have lots of resources going to the performing arts, but at the moment it is not being handled properly. However, I'm happy to announce that the chairperson of the National Lotteries Board agrees with me, so there is light at the end of the tunnel. We should be able to sort that out.
With regard to the promotion of indigenous languages, as the Deputy Minister has said, the Bill is already with Cabinet. It will be tabled at the next session of Cabinet. It should be in Parliament by July so that we will be able to deal with it.
We will look not only at issues of multilingualism, but also at how government itself, and the national departments and agencies, are able to monitor, promote and ensure that there is access to government documents in all 11 official languages. That Bill is coming in July, and we hope that it will assist us to address the issue of promoting our languages.
With regard to promoting printing, the Deputy Minister has dealt with that. We are encouraging the writing and printing of books in all languages, particularly indigenous languages. So you are going to see more work in that regard.
With regard to social cohesion, we will have a summit next month where we are going to debate these issues. You will recall that the President, last year or in 2009, indicated that it is important for South Africans to debate who they are as South Africans, what our values are and what makes us South Africans. The concerns raised by other members about heckling at rallies, and so on, are part of the things that we need to address. The summit is meant to create an opportunity for dialogue.
However, we have decided that instead of just relying on summits we will start a campaign. The Deputy Minister keeps on reminding me of what the campaign is called, and I think it is "South African @ heart". The campaign will be taken all over the country, and will allow engagement with the media, young people, various sectors, professionals, etc. The idea is to ensure that by the time we reach the summit there should have been a lot of dialogue in the country about issues of national identity, ubuntu, and the values that make us South African. We therefore hope that everybody will engage in that campaign so that we strengthen our role of nation-building and social cohesion.
One of our major responsibilities is to ensure that we build up this beautiful country. We need to ensure that its people are united and that they understand each other's cultures. It should not just be about tolerance. We should not merely tolerate one another; we must understand one another. We must be able to live together as a nation. We will, therefore, have that summit and we hope Members of Parliament will attend, because sometimes we don't attend these functions. I'm inviting you already. [Interjections.] You must come to the summit. [Applause.]
We have also engaged religious leaders - we are also in touch with them. We are bringing in everybody, because all of us will agree that South Africa is a beautiful country. We led by example during 2010, and we have shown the world that we are truly proud of who we are, but let us close the little gaps that there are.
I want to assure hon members that we do call the people who sometimes heckle at rallies to order. It is not true that the leaders, particularly of the ANC, tolerate that kind of behaviour. None of our leaders, not even the President, tolerates that behaviour. However, it's important that we make South Africans understand that we should all work together to build this democracy, and we must continue to do so. Chairperson, let me not belabour by the point.
We have taken note of all the issues that members have raised and we appreciate your support. We will continue to work with you because the department, without your support, would not be able to do much. Even when we go and ask for a little more money from Treasury, you will back us and make sure that we can get something additional. However, we will do our best with what we have for now. We are not going to sit back and say, "Siyashota." [We don't have enough.] With what we have, we will do our best and make sure that the department also contributes to the big task of creating jobs in our country.
We can't leave it to other departments. In our little way - whether it's in the music industry or the film industry - we must also make a contribution. With the limited resources that we have, we will do so.
I can tell you that if we come with good plans, National Treasury will listen to us. We have plans and we are busy finalising the plans so that we can go and present them. We will highlight the fact that our plans will not only ensure social cohesion and nation-building, but will also ensure that there are skills in the arts sector and that we create jobs.
Let me take this opportunity to thank everybody who has come here today: our stakeholders, members of boards and chief executive officers. Thank you very much to everybody.
Ndi khou livhunwa. [I thank you.] Inkomu. [Thank you.] [Applause.]
Thank you, hon Minister. I have just a few announcements to make. The department invites all members to the Marks Building for refreshments. However, hon members, you are also reminded that the Extended Public Committee, EPC, on Public Works will meet in this Chamber at 16:45, and the EPC on Transport will also meet at 16:45, in E249.
Debate concluded.