Hon Chairperson, Arts and Culture continues to make significant strides in positioning the culture and the creative industries as the main drivers of economic growth and job creation in our country. It is important that the ANC government proceeds on this path by drawing lessons from other countries and how they have used their arts and culture and heritage sectors to promote greater social cohesion as a prerequisite for building more prosperous societies.
The ANC government, in terms of Arts and Culture, is informed by the realisation that societies with greater social cohesion tend to be the ones that are economically prosperous. Therefore, it is against this background that in April 2011 a national consultative summit, the Mzanzi Golden Economy on the Role of Arts and Culture and the Heritage Sectors in the Economy, was convened in Johannesburg.
Our culture and heritage are key to nation-building and social cohesion. Therefore they are the ingredients in creating the climate and social stability for economic growth. We cannot run away from the fact that Arts and Culture are playing a healing role through promoting reconciliation. The ANC government's approach to culture is premised on international standards in terms of which culture is understood as an important component of national life that enhances all of our freedoms. Culture should not be used as a mechanism of exclusion or a barrier between people, nor should cultural practices be reduced to ethnic or religious chauvinism.
Ours is indeed no simple task. Given the ease with which arts and culture and heritage may be abused for sectional purposes, the opportunity now presents itself for us to rise above the pettiness of selfish practices. The enthusiasm with which the new national flag was greeted tells us that it is possible to find common ground. We should remember that during 2011, a total of 365 000 people were employed. This is the country's best performance since the recession began in 2008. The ANC supports Budget Vote 14. So there is no crisis. [Applause.]
Vote agreed to (Democratic Alliance and Independent Democrats dissenting).
Vote No 15 - Basic Education - put:
Declarations of vote: