Sihlalo ohloniphekileyo, Mphathiswa noSekela Mphathiswa nawo onke amaLungu ale Ndlu. Ndiyakuvela oku ukuthethileyo Mphathiswa okubaluleke kangaka malunga nomhlaba. Ukuchaphazele ke noko kwaye kubalulekile. La nto yala cohesion summit eyayiphaya eKliptown, yayibhadlile ke kodwa. Siyayazi into eyithethayo into ye social cohesion kaloku ixela ukuba abantu bakwamasiza ehostele phaya eSebokeng, aba bagxothwayo namhlanje babefike ngowe-1973, kuthiwa mabaye phi kube kusithiwa umhlaba uyafumaneka? Mayithethwe kaloku le nto yenzeke. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[Mr P NTSHIQELA: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister, Members of Parliament. I like what you have just said about land, Minister; it is very important. The cohesion summit that was held in Kliptown was a good idea indeed. We know what social cohesion is all about. Amongst other things, it talks to the question of the people from Kwa Masiza Hostel in Sebokeng who have been staying there since 1973 and today are being evicted. Where are they expected to go, given that there are reports that land is available? Words should be backed by action.]
According to Cope, arts and culture remain the heartbeat of the nation and the Department of Arts and Culture should focus on, stick to and deliver on its constitutional mandate to achieve its development expectations. Its performance must be measured on cultural development progress because the culture of our people cannot be compromised.
I have taken note and observed the progress made by the Department of Arts and Culture in correcting PanSALB's disappointing situation but the pace at which the process is happening is a worrying factor. It is time now that PanSALB's new board, which is still to be appointed, should be made aware of the urgency of getting PanSALB to run its business as usual and to begin implementing its original mandate. The people of South Africa are waiting with patience for its speedy recovery. The mistakes made by PanSALB over previous years should not be repeated but avoided, especially when it comes to infighting, unnecessary staff dismissals, court cases and the wasteful expenditure of the taxpayer's money. [Interjections.]
Sukudibanisa iCope neGupta, man. [Do not mix up Cope and Gupta, man.] [Laughter.]
The implementation of the use of languages must be taken seriously and put very high on the development agenda. It is not right to continue to use languages that our children were forced to use during the apartheid era while the Language Bill was passed in this Parliament to accommodate those who had been excluded previously and deprived of the right to use their own languages. [Interjections.]
Ningathi nqa xa nindibona ndisebenzisa nezandla, ndizama ukugxininisa le nto. [Do not be surprised to see me using hand gestures, I'm trying to emphasise this point.]
This is totally wrong, Minister Mashatile. You will recall what damage that caused our people at that time. Implement this, and implement it now. [Interjections.]
While we appreciate the commitment shown by the current SAHRA board, the excuse of blaming the unfinished job on the previous board must come to an end. The current board must perform and deliver as expected.
Hayi, ndiyabaxelela mna, andizukuba ndijikeleza. [No, I am going to tell it like it is; I am not going to beat about the bush.] [Laughter.]
It is clear that one part of the oversight role of the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture is to ensure the proper use of public funds and a corruption-free arts and culture sector. It is not right for the SAHRA CEO to run to the ruling party for protection and defence when she is told to perform and deliver on her duties. [Interjections.] The SAHRA board is expected to monitor everybody's performance regularly.
The national Khoi and San council formation is highly appreciated.
Kukho abantu abangxola njeee, ndithetha into enengqondo apha. [There are people who are making a noise just for the fun of it, whilst I am saying sensible things here.] [Laughter.]