The leader of Parliament was able to express himself at the Union Buildings. He was never barred from saying what he wanted to say.
I also want to thank members who have raised the issues around language. I think we have a number of projects on language or the promotion of our languages, and also on promoting the culture of reading and writing. This year, for instance, we have an international book fair which will be held here in Cape Town. We have invited 20 African publishers from all over the continent. This is the biggest book fair in sub-Saharan Africa. The theme for this year will be "Where the story begins".
Isizathu kukuba ngokwenene sonke saqala eAfrika. [The reason is because all of us certainly originated from Africa.]
We also have a programme to build libraries. To date we have refurbished 111 libraries. We have also built 11 libraries.
Okubuhlungu ke kukuba kuloo mathala eencwadi ali-11 siwakhileyo amane atshiswa kuqhankqalazo olukhe lwenzeka, ingakumbi phaya eMpumalanga. Siyalucela ulutsha lwethu ukuba lungawatshisi la mathala eencwadi. Ndiyazi ukuba mhlawumbi zihlaseleka lula kuba zivutha ngokukhawuleza. Kodwa eza a ncwadi likamva lenu. La mathala eencwadi lilifa lenu. Ndicela ukuba masiwakhusele la mathala eencwadi singawatshisi ... (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[It is painful to acknowledge that of the 11 libraries we built, four have been burnt down during the service delivery protests, especially in Mpumalanga. We appeal to our youth not to burn down these libraries. I know that perhaps it is easy to do so because they burn down quickly because of the large number of books. But, those books are your future. These libraries are our heritage. I appeal to all that we should protect these libraries and not burn them down ...]
... because they are part of the delivery that you are demanding from this government. This year we have allocated a budget to build another 12 libraries for our communities and we hope that that is another contribution. Within the programme of building libraries, we have embarked on a special project of reprinting and republishing African indigenous books. To date, 27 titles have been produced and distributed to our public libraries.
This year we have targeted 18 titles that include: Apha Naphaya by D M Jongilanga, Ikusasa Alaziwa by O E H M Nxumalo and Megokgo ya Bjoko by Oliver Kgadime Matsepe. We are also encouraging a reading nation. We will publish great African classics such as Mhudi by Sol Plaatje, as well as books by Chinua Achebe and other African writers from the African diaspora.
I would also like to commend the National Arts Council for purchasing the collections and documents of the late great writer, Mazisi Kunene, South Africa's first poet laureate. With this valuable collection, we shall be able to keep a lasting legacy of one of Africa's finest literary sons who, throughout his life, wrote in isiZulu even when he was in exile. We hope that in due course this collection will be made accessible to scholars and the wider public.
Ndifuna ukuthi siyabulela. [I want to say we thank you.]
The department has also supported the Baobab Literary Journal, with the purpose of providing a regular publishing platform for budding writers to appear alongside seasoned ones. The publication has included contributors from various countries across the African continent including, again, the African diaspora.
We also continue to support the Time of the Writer Festival and the Poetry Africa Festival that are annually held in Durban. These festivals have also delivered developmental workshops for young emerging writers and scholars. We have also had the initiative with Correctional Services to promote writing in prison. The implementation of these programmes is ongoing. We would like our hon members to promote this project and encourage reading and writing for our children and communities.
With regard to heritage, I also want to say that we have very critical projects on the ground. We have launched the national heritage liberation route which will trace and record the story of the liberation struggle in South Africa. This will also include SADC countries and other African countries beyond the SADC borders.
I am also happy to report that on 6 April 2010, Solomon Mahlangu's home was handed over to me by his mother, Martha Mahlangu, to be converted into a museum as part of our heritage. [Applause.]
The family of John Langalibalele Dube have also donated their house to the department so that it can also be developed to showcase our history and heritage as John Langalibalele Dube was one of the great leaders of South Africa, a writer and a publisher in his own right.
I would also like to report that, indeed, we have acted in terms of corruption. It was a very painful experience whereby we had almost 20 of our officials suspended. I must report that we were fortunate to have had a very good lawyer, who also was very sharp, and not really interested in making money for himself by protracting the process so that he could continue to earn. Our lawyer just dealt with the cases head-on and took serious decisions.
Currently, four senior officials have been fired: Mr Madlavu who is the chief director, Mr Motsepe who is a director, and another chief director who was responsible for the Investing in Culture programme. We have also fired Deputy Director-General Selepe. As one hon member said, the R150 million is part of this investigation of 2010. These cases have been reported to the Special Investigating Unit and the Asset Forfeiture Unit to ensure that criminal investigations are going on. This will enable us to recover whatever we can in order to bring these resources back to government. [Applause.]
I want to conclude by saying that we commend South Africans for taking on the national symbols campaign. We would like to encourage members to teach their constituencies how to sing the national anthem properly, and to put the flag on their cars so that we can, in fact, become proudly South African. [Applause.]
To all the hon members, thank you for supporting us. I don't have time now, but at a later stage I will answer all the other questions about the investigations, the suspensions and the 2010 projects. I have agreed with the chairperson that he will give us time to come and give a full report.
Lastly, I want to thank the chairperson and the portfolio committee for all their support and for keeping us on our toes. I also thank my Deputy Minister, my director-general Mr Themba Wakashe, our chief operations officer, and our newly appointed deputy director-general, Veliswa Baduza, for their hard work. I also want to say a big thank you to Mr K Buthelezi who chairs the audit committee.
I would like to thank all members who have participated in the debate. We would like to invite you very soon to the opening of Freedom Park which will, we hope, be in June. It has now been completed, particularly the museum called //hapo: the dream. [Applause.]
Finally, I want to invite all of you to dinner this evening. It will start at about 18:00 at Simon's Restaurant at the Groot Constantia Estate. Transport will be available outside 120 Plein Street at around 17:30 or so. I want to assure the members and the DA that this was paid for by a sponsor, thank you very much. [Laughter.] [Applause.] Let me thank the Southern African Music Rights Organisation, Samro, for hosting us tonight. Thanks a lot. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.