Chairperson, hon Minister Lulama Xingwana, hon MEC for arts and culture in Gauteng, the director-general and distinguished guests, let me begin by saying that the ANC supports Budget Vote No 13 - Arts and Culture. I would like to explain why we support it.
The ANC is committed to consolidating partnerships across society to strengthen social cohesion and to ensure that our nation achieves the values of a caring society inspired by the traits of human compassion, which informed our struggle against colonialism.
Indeed, the need to build co-operation amongst all our people applies even more to matters of spiritual sustenance such as beliefs and moral values which are as communal as they are profoundly personal. This we shall do, proceeding from the understanding that comprehensive social transformation entails changing the material conditions of all our people for the better, but also ensuring that we forge a nation inspired by values of human solidarity. It is the combination of these factors that describes the civilisation of the national democracy that we seek to build.
This budget must advance our cause of liberation. Liberation also means engendering the freedom of the human spirit to search for better ways of doing things, to express itself freely and to enjoy the creative endeavours of humanity. We are informed by the precepts of our country's Constitution, especially the Bill of Rights.
The ANC believes in working with all sectors of society to promote an overarching South African identity that recognises the diversity of our country's people. We will promote pride in our heritage, including geographic and place names, our African identity and our common humanity as global citizens.
Social cohesion begins with the home and within a community. Early childhood development and the pedagogic development of a child throughout their schoolgoing years are critical. It is the values that we teach that shape the mind and the moral consciousness that is left in the mind of the child as they grow towards being an adult.
The 2007 ANC national conference had as its theme "The building of a caring society". In building a caring society, the ANC is committed to building a society with human solidarity at its centre.
The ANC champions a positive role for the institution of the family and the community, youth involvement in a variety of social endeavours, patriotism and civil responsibility, community activism, sport and other social activities. Our movement promotes healthy lifestyles, moral integrity, role models informed by human compassion, generosity, incorruptibility and accountability. These are the values that underpin moral regeneration.
Our Constitution forms a critical part of the nation's collective resources in the promotion of humane values. Our Constitution is the cornerstone of our democracy. It enshrines the democratic values of human dignity and equality of all our people. These values and rights enshrined in the Constitution place an obligation on the state to respect, protect and promote a better life for all our people. This is why the case of a strong developmental state, which can ensure the capacity to advance a humane value system, becomes critical.
While encouraging individuals' initiative, drive and entrepreneurship, we want to encourage appreciation of the responsibility borne by those who command political, social, material and other forms of power over the poor and vulnerable sectors of society.
In this regard, our movement will continue to fight against all manifestations of racism, super-exploitation, patriarchy, ethnic Afro- chauvinism, religious and political intolerance and the abuse of women and children. It will discourage greed and the arrogant display of wealth, and will campaign against the abuse of drugs and alcohol.
In this regard, sport is a critical factor in society because it bridges all kinds of barriers and has the potential to promote tolerance, trust, respect and social cohesion. An investment in sports facilities is therefore part of the building of social cohesion.
Key in this endeavour will be the mobilisation of all our people to strengthen the nation's moral fibre, through moral regeneration informed by the ideals of human compassion and solidarity.
As part of the ANC's commitment to moral regeneration let us, in our families, give our children a sound beginning and teach them the enduring values of honesty, hard work, discipline, respect for self and others, responsibility, obligations and of doing unto others as they would have done unto them.
We need to lay a strong foundation for a society that cares for those less fortunate; a society that values human life; a society that is guided by respect and all the values that are enshrined in the Bill of Rights of our Constitution and the spirit of ubuntu.
Let us, in working towards the moral renewal of our nation, send a powerful message to criminals - that there will be no place to hide. Sizonithola. [We will find you.]
We can do this by bringing to justice those who kill, abuse children, steal, rob and maim.
I am of the view that the moral regeneration campaign should be strengthened with a sharp focus on all sections of our society. It is my belief that this campaign needs to be an essentially people-driven initiative supported by government.
Harmful traditional practices can be eradicated upon recognition that certain aspects of our past are no longer compatible with the value systems that are being built by moral regeneration. These harmful traditional practices seek to entrench the economic and cultural dependence of women on older men through patriarchal practices like ukuthwalwa and ukungenwa, as they constitute ... [Interjections] ... Anivumi? vumani nonke ndinive, namadoda. [Kwahlekwa.] [You don't agree? You must all agree so that I can hear you. [Laughter.]] ... as they constitute a gross human rights violation.
In a society where the rights of women are constitutionally protected, such practices can be perpetuated. They are directly linked to socioeconomic poverty. In other words, these practices are continued in the hope that they will bring about economic security.
We have seen businesspeople making various contributions towards specific development projects. We have also witnessed ordinary citizens going out on the streets to help the police fight crime, to help teachers educate our children, and in many other areas.
The religious fraternity is one of the important stakeholders in the campaign to build the moral fibre of our society. Through the ecumenical movement, the building of the active participation of families in the moral regeneration campaign is central.
Let me also take this opportunity to appeal to this House to join hands in providing care and support to those who are infected with and affected by HIV and Aids. Our people should feel free to test their HIV and Aids status in an attempt to fight the stigma and stereotypes. On this front, our President, President Zuma, has led the nation by example. Let us assist child-headed households, volunteer in hospices and home-based care and provide any kind of material and emotional support to affected families. In building a caring nation, we need to work together to fight the stigmatisation of those living with the disease and confront negative stereotypes and fear.
The Moral Regeneration Movement is founded on the principles of a nation working together to address the challenges it faces. Our belief, as the ANC, is that to manage, reduce and eventually defeat the disease, we need a strong partnership between all sectors of society and government.
The call has long been made for people to change their lifestyles in the absence of a cure for Aids. Preventing infection remains critical. We want to appeal to each and every person in our country to exercise their individual and collective responsibility to take care of their own lives.
In conclusion ...
Ungathi ndigqibe, Sihlalo. [Kwahlekwa.] [Don't ask me to wrap up, Chair! [Laughter.]]
... all our people in our diverse cultures have high moral values and are concerned about the antisocial activities threatening our country. That struggle can only be won when people face it and when they meet and act at the local level. Where we live is the site of the struggle in which the nation will conquer these challenges.
We need to network our concern to continue with the transformation of our country. We need to build a society with strong moral fibre, refining the spirit of ubuntu/botho - and using the budget of the Department of Arts and Culture to empower our communities to develop and enjoy the ethical values embodied in our Constitution. I again say, the ANC supports Budget Vote No 13 - Arts and Culture. Thank you. [Applause.]
UMPHATISWA WESEBE LEZOBUGCISA NENKCUBEKO: Sihlalo, ndibulela usihlalo wekomiti ondiphe imizuzwana. Okokuqala ndifuna ukubulela amalungu ahloniphekileyo athe asixhasa kolu Hlahlo-lwabiwo-mali lonyaka wama-2010 lweSebe lobuGcisa neNkcubeko. Ndibulela ilungu elihloniphekileyo uBhoola, noxa sele ebalekile, ngokuthi akhumbuze iNdlu ukuba uMongameli uZuma uhlabe umkhosi wathi onke amaqela makahlangane; onke amaqela makabekhona ekukhumbuleni iintsuku zethu zesizwe. Isizathu kukuba asingomcimbi weqela elithile. Iintsuku zesizwe ziyinxalenye yembali yethu. Ngazo ezi ntsuku sibhiyozela intando yesininzi yethu, inkululeko yethu kunye nelifa lethu.
Ndifuna nokubulela amaqela athe akhona xa besikhumbula uSuku lwamaLungelo aBantu eSharpville. Ndikhumbula kakuhle ukuba uMongameli wePAC wayekhona, siyabulela tata. Sibulela nazo zonke iinkokheli zemibutho. UTat' uShenge wayekhona, siyabulela. Siphinde kwakhona sakunye nayo imibutho ngoSuku lweNkululeko. Utat' uTrollip weDA wayekhona, uMfundis' uDandala, uNjengele Bantu Holomisa - hayi ke uzihamba zonke ke yena, kaloku ngumkhaya - nabePAC babekhona -hayi ndiyaphazama, hayi iPAC - ... (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[The MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE: Chairperson, I thank the committee chairperson for giving me a few minutes to speak. Firstly, I would like to thank the hon members who supported us with regard to this 2010 Budget Vote of the Department of Arts and Culture. I would like to thank hon Bhoola, though he has already left, for reminding the House that President Zuma has made a call to all political parties to honour our national days of celebration. The reason is that those celebrations are not of a particular party. National days are a part of our history. On these days we celebrate our democracy, our freedom and our heritage.
I would also like to thank the parties that were present when we were commemorating Human Rights Day in Sharpville. I remember well that the president of the PAC was present - thank you, Sir. We thank all the leaders of the different organisations. Shenge was present - thank you, sir. We were celebrating together again with the different parties on Freedom Day. Mr Trollip from the DA and Rev Dandala were there. Maj Gen Bantu Holomisa of course is always present, he is my homeboy. Even the PAC was represented - no I am mistaken, not the PAC ...]