Baie dankie. Agb Van Wyk, hou op om my te pla, asseblief.
Die vraag is of die departement hierdie prioriteit weerspiel. Wat museums en gemeenskapsbiblioteke betref, lyk die prentjie nie altyd rooskleurig nie. Ek praat nou van die platteland. Die William Humphreys Art Gallery is die enigste nasionale museum in die Noord-Kaap en moet met 'n karige begroting van slegs R5,6 miljoen klaarkom. Eie aan mense in die Noord-Kaap, verrig hulle wondere met die karige begroting en lewer hulle uitmuntende diens, nie net aan Kimberley nie, maar ook aan dorpies ver van daar. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.) [Dr H C VAN SCHALKWYK: Thank you very much. Hon Van Wyk, stop bothering me, please.
The question is whether the department reflects this priority. As far as community libraries and museums are concerned, the picture does not always look bright. I am talking now about rural areas. The William Humphreys Art Gallery is the only national museum in the Northern Cape and has to manage with a meagre budget of R5,6 million. Typical of the people of the Northern Cape, it does wonders on a meagre budget and provides outstanding service, not only to Kimberley, but also to all the little towns far from it.]
Minister, put your money where your mouth is and increase their budget significantly.
Gemeenskapsbiblioteke in kleiner dorpe word ook meer as dikwels afgeskeep. Vir hierdie inwoners in kleiner dorpe is plaaslike biblioteke dikwels die enigste inligtingsbron en plek waar leesstof beskikbaar is. Vir leerders in hierdie gebiede is dit die enigste plek waar inligting vir skoolprojekte bekom kan word, aangesien die skoolbiblioteke nie meer bestaan nie.
Ten spyte van die departement se prioriteitstatus vir biblioteke, is daar baie gevalle in die platteland waar biblioteke net 'n droom bly. In Kamieskroon in Namakwaland is die biblioteek vir langer as 'n jaar reeds gesluit. Die werknemer daar, wat 'n ANC-kader is, wou nie verder daar werk nie, want daar was nie 'n rekenaar nie. [Tussenwerpsels.] Die vorige persoon het sonder 'n rekenaar klaargekom en die mense kon hulle boeke uitneem. Die boeke is verwyder en na Garies, 'n buurdorp, geneem. Dit is 'n klap in die gesig van plattelandse mense. Dit ontneem hulle van basiese regte en striem hulle ontwikkeling.
Die DA-regeerde Wes-Kaap het onlangs R187,4 miljoen bewillig om plaaslike biblioteekdienste te versterk. [Applous.] [Tussenwerpsels.] Miskien kan die ANC-regeerde Noord-Kaap by hulle gaan kers opsteek.
Baie dankie, enkosi kakhulu. Ek kan nou 'n vraag neem as die persoon 'n vraag wil vra. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.]
[Community libraries in smaller towns are also more frequently neglected. For these residents in smaller towns local libraries are often the only source of information and place where reading material is available. For learners in these areas it is the only place where information for school projects can be obtained, since the school libraries do not exist any more.
Despite the department's priority status for libraries, there are many cases in rural areas where libraries are only a dream. In Kamieskroon in Namaqualand the library has already been closed for more than a year. The employee there, who is an ANC cadre, did not want to continue working there because there is no computer. [Interjections.] The previous person worked without a computer and the people could take out their books. The books were moved to Garies, a neighbouring town. It is a slap in the face of the rural people. It deprives them of their basic rights and arrests progress.
The DA-governed Western Cape has recently granted R187,4 million to strengthen local library services. [Applause.] [Interjections.] Maybe the ANC-governed Northern Cape can seek advice from them.
Thank you very much. I can now take a question if the person wants to put a question.]