Chairperson, it is indeed an honour to participate in this debate today because it is an opportunity for the DA to say exactly what opportunities there are in our country with its diverse communities. This is a huge blessing received from the hand of God, and we, as His children, must make the utmost of His blessings bestowed upon us.
Let us first look at the meaning of the term "craft" for it to give us an eagle's view of what we have here. "Craft" refers to a set of opportunities and activities that involve a person's skill, innovation and dedication to produce a desired object. It is also viable to bring out an art piece which either has a utilitarian or decorative value or even both.
The principal materials used to create crafts are wood, stone, clay, glass, textiles, metal, cement and paper. We find crafts in the categories of handicrafts or traditional crafts.
Craft is as old as human beings. In saying this, we, as people, have lost the real value of what craft could do to promote opportunities, the economy and employment in communities, and what it could do for South Africa. Traditional crafts are done in old ways. Their methods, tools and techniques have been used for centuries. Some crafts are done by modern inventions - with new tools, techniques and media.
Voorsitter, Suid-Afrika het 'n multi-kulturele samelewing en gemeenskap, vol diversiteit en verskille. Juis hierin l die rykdom wat ons sukkel om te ontgin, omdat ons en ons kinders in moderne ontwikkeling vasgeval het. Ons moet onsself daaruit ontsluit, met ander woorde, 'n balans moet gekry word. Hierdie multi-kulturele karakter het die potensiaal en kapasiteit om 'n noemenswaardige ekonomie te genereer waaruit maatskaplike voordeel vir die nasie getrek kan word.
Die vraag kom soos 'n refrein na vore: Verstaan en gebruik ons die potensiaal en dinamiek van kuns en kunsvlyt ten volle? Juis hierin l die ope geleentheidsgemeenskap wat so oud is soos die mensdom self en reeds op verskeie gebiede gebruik word. Dit is glad nie 'n nuwe begrip nie.
Kom ons ondersoek hierdie geleentheid verder. Die moderne samelewing stroop ons jeug en volwassenes van die talente wat ons van God ontvang het. Die Bybelse uitdrukking s: Moenie jou talente onder 'n maatemmer verberg nie. Laat ons van die een penning nog meer maak, en dit l juis in kuns en kunsvlyt opgesluit. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Chairperson, South Africa has a multicultural society and community, filled with diversity and differences. This is precisely where the wealth that we are struggling to develop lies, because we and our children got caught up in modern development. We need to free ourselves from it; in other words, we need to find a balance. This multicultural character has the potential and capacity to generate a significant economy which could be to the social benefit of the nation.
The question rings forth like a chorus: Do we fully understand and utilise the potential and dynamics of arts and crafts? Herein lies the very open opportunity society that is as old as mankind itself and is being used in various areas. This is by no means a new concept.
Let's explore this opportunity further. Modern society strips our youth and adults from their God-given talents. The Biblical expression says: Don't hide your light under a bushel. Let's use the one penny to make even more, and this can be done through arts and crafts in particular.]
Let us celebrate our crafts and our heritage everyday in the real sense of the word, from the young to the old. South Africa is the best country in which to celebrate an industry that has morphed from an expression of creativity to a form of producing crafts, natural resources and recycled products. Our rich history of cultural expressions is particularly defined in crafts.
A nation is built by celebrating its common identity and pride and by building cohesion and sustainable communities to showcase its museums, galleries, heritage and other tourist attractions. We must never try to erase our history in South Africa, and this characteristic is currently shown by the ANC government in trying to wipe out a certain piece of history in certain areas of our country. We must use history to cause those coming after us to never do it again because of the ills it has created. Our diversity lies in all of this.
National Craft Month is a great reminder to tell the kids about the potential of fun they could have, although they've grown widely accustomed to movies and video games as a form of entertainment. Childhood is the most fragile time of our lives, and it is of utmost importance that our kids are well prepared for whatever life has to show them later on.
Kids love making things. Therefore, we must also use this opportunity in our schools. This method of education is less and less seen and used in our schools, and the curriculum must include craft and other forms of handiwork for our learners. The benefits are huge and enormous, such as the following.
Firstly, creativity is healthy and relaxing. It builds dexterity and motor function since one's hands and mind are used to create. Secondly, creativity relates to lots of mental ideas, problem solving and comprehension.
Dit ontwikkel die mens se selfbeeld en -erkenning. Dit sal juis ons kinders op skool leer hoe om hul verstand te gebruik, hoe om te dink en hoe om te evalueer.
Derdens, kinders leer ook hoe instruksies gevolg kan word, en watter ouer sal nie daarvan hou dat hul kinders hul instruksies en leringe volg nie!
Die doel heilig die middele, en dit is een van die middele wat gebruik kan word om dwelms en bendebetrokkenheid by ons jeug aan te spreek.
Elke jaar in September word Erfenisdag gevier en die regering kies 'n tema. Vanjaar se tema, "Celebrating Craft, our Heritage", moet in murg en been, van dag tot dag, van skool tot skool, en van gemeenskap tot gemeenskap vasgevat en ontwikkel word. Die geleenthede wat dit bied, moet ontgin word. Die oplossing vir al die probleme in ons land, l opgesluit in die diversiteit van die nasie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[It develops one's self-esteem and self-recognition. It could teach our children who are in school how to use their intellect, how to think, and how to evaluate.
Thirdly, children learn how to follow instructions, and what parent would not be pleased when his or her child was following his or her instructions and teachings!
The end justifies the means, and this is one of the means to address drug abuse and gang involvement amongst our youth.
Heritage Day is celebrated every year in September and government chooses a theme. This year's theme, "Celebrating Craft, our Heritage", must be firmly incorporated and thoroughly developed on a day-to-day basis, from school to school and community to community. The opportunities it creates should be developed. The solution to all our country's problems lies in the diversity of the nation.]
The heritage awards event of this year honours six South Africans for their contributions. The awardees this year are: the late Alfred Nokwe for theatre; Johny Clegg for music and social cohesion; Noria Mabasa, an accomplished sculptor and wood carver; the late Bheki Mseleku for music; Nanda Soobben, a Durban-based animator and arts educator, and Jay Pather for dance. [Interjections.] I thank you. [Time expired.]