Hon Chairperson, South African culture always conjures up the image of many independent tributaries flowing into a large river. The river is mighty and strong, but only because of the combined support it receives from its many streams. Our different cultures are these streams. Their flow must be encouraged, not stymied. The upcoming languages Bill must promote rather than restrict languages. Afrikaans, Hindu, Indonesian and Hebrew are said to be possibly the only languages that were standardised in the course of the 20th century and came to be used in all areas of life and learning, including in both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, as well as science and technology.
In 1994 the sociologist Lawrence Schlemmer concluded that Afrikaans, though spoken as a first language by only 6 million people, or 15% of the population, was the strongest language in South Africa in the way it was being used, formally and informally. If this is the case, why are we so intent on using this Bill to restrict it - or any of our indigenous languages, for that matter?
Investment in culture is paramount to the education and upliftment of our communities. Here, too, an ethos of cultural relativism should prevail, as we are a diverse cultural nation with many different traditions and cultures.
Traditional and indigenous as well as international and classical literature should be taught in our school system. Classical literature remains a source of a wealth of knowledge, and our learners should have the benefits thereof. Our libraries should be easily accessible and well stocked with relevant literature.
Legacy projects, which serve to commemorate and honour the rich tapestry of South African history, must continue to be supported by the department. The department must, however, guard against showing a preference for one particular subjective interpretation of history over the actual truth of past events. The legacy projects must be chosen in an equal and unbiased manner, a manner which affords all of our past struggles and heroes and heroines an equal place under the sun.
Cultural tourism must be promoted. It should not become a lost opportunity. Our rural areas contain a wealth of traditions and can showcase them through various rituals, festivals, values and lifestyles. We must encourage and assist new business initiatives that have the goal of promoting cultural tourism.
The South African theatre and music scene is thriving, but it must be made more accessible to our learners and citizens living in our rural communities.
In conclusion, culture is social, and it develops as a product of society. It is shared, learnt, transmissive, continuous and cumulative, varied, dynamic and gratifying. Culture is powerful, yet fragile. Some say it is in a continuous state of change and easily lost because it exists only in our minds. It is therefore also definitive, defining who we are as people. As such, it must be protected and cherished by all who share it, and we as government have a solemn duty to do that. Let us not falter in doing our duty. We therefore support the Budget Vote. Thank you. [Applause.]