Voorsitter, agb Ministers, agb Adjunkministers, agb Parlementslede, dames and here, Suid-Afrika is besig om te herrys uit 'n ontstuimige geskiedenis. Vir die eerste keer sedert die stryd om hierdie kuslyn geniet ons demokratiese vryhede.
Die botsing van kulture lei nie noodwendig tot onderwerping en heerskappy nie. Dit kan ook lei tot die substantiewe kruisbestuiwing van idees, woorde, gebruike, kunsvorms, kookkuns en godsdienspraktyke.
Hierdie dinamiese wisselwerking het altyd 'n rol gespeel in kulturele verryking en het 'n buitengewoon vrugbare en unieke Suid-Afrikaanse kultuur tot gevolg gehad wat ons nasie op so baie wyses in sy taalkundige, kulturele en godsdienstige diversitieit saamgevoeg het.
'n Volk sonder 'n verlede is 'n verlore nasie, en mense sonder 'n verlede is mense sonder gees. Afrika word vandag erken as die wieg van die mensdom. In ons deel van die kontinent het ons 'n ryke en uiteenlopende verlede wat eers nou vir sy kompleksiteit en diversiteit waardeer word. Ons erfenis is inderdaad die fondament waarop ons werk om ons samelewing te herbou.
Voorsitter, my boodskap vandag is om vrede te vind in die rykdom van ons samelewing. Ek dring daarop aan dat agb lede deel in die talle geleenthede wat elkeen van ons, ons gemeenskappe, ons land en ons kontinent geniet. Ek wil graag h dat u dink aan hoe anders u erfenis in baie opsigte is as di van u ouers.
Dink aan die besondere eienskappe wat vir u aan vorige geslagte bind; aan temas en tradisies wat u lewe gevorm het, soos byvoorbeeld die vryheidsliedere, slagspreuke, gedigte en danse.
Die beginsel van vryheid van uitdrukking is 'n fundamentele vereiste vir die demokrasie. Gewortel in vryheid van uitdrukking en kreatiewe denke speel die kunste, kultuur en erfenis 'n belangrike rol in die ontwikkeling van nasiebou en die volhoubaarheid van ons ontwikkelende demokrasie. Die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing het 'n wesenlike transformasie ondergaan. Vir diegene wat s hierdie transformasie het nie gebeur nie: dit het. Ooreenkomstig die beginsels van geregtigheid, demokrasie, nierassigheid en niesekssisme staar elke sektor van ons samelewing verandering in die gesig. Terwyl dit sommiges kan omkrap, bring dit vir ander hoop dat hul behoeftes, sieninge en begeertes nou ook deel van die hoofstroom van Suid-Afrika is.
Suid-Afrika se eerste demokraties verkose regering het bygedra tot hierdie proses wat deur die eerste Ministerie van Kuns, Kultuur, Wetenskap en Tegnologie geskep is.
Vir die doeleindes van Erfenismaand geld die volgende, en dit is die kunste, kultuur en erfenis. Suid-Afrika ondervind inderdaad 'n kulturele renaissance. Kulturele uitdrukking en identiteit, soos taalregte en toegang tot grond, is sommige van die belangrikste kwessies van die dag.
Dit is geen verrassing dat die dominante temas wat hierdie velde kenmerk, 'n gemeenskaplikheid met temas elders het nie. Die bestuur van en toegang tot finansies is die groot uitdagings, en dit moet ons tromp-op aanpak. Hierdie renaissance in die Suid-Afrikaanse kunste is afhanklik van 'n beleid wat billikheid verseker en wat verbind is tot die bevordering van 'n bewussyn wat diversiteit vier.
Die kunste, kultuur en erfenis kan nie uit hierdie transformasieproses uitgesluit word nie. Uitings in elke kunsvorm - van teater tot dans, opera tot kabaret, die skone kunste tot kunshandwerk, klassieke musiek tot jazz, posievoorlesings tot lesings - vind regdeur Suid-Afrika plaas.
Die land is ryk aan kulturele diversiteit, wat dit 'n belangrike bestemming vir alle kunsliefhebbers maak. 'n Groot getal kunsgalerye bied geleenthede aan bekende en onbekende kunstenaars om hul talente ten toon te stel. Die Departement van Kuns en Kultuur streef daarna om die Suid-Afrikaanse erfenis te ontwikkel en te bewaar om sodoende maatskaplike kohesie en nasiebou te verseker.
Die agste Januarie 2012 sal 'n jaar van feesvieringe inlui om die honderdjarige bestaan van die ANC te vier; dt ondanks enige agenda wat 'n afskuwelike botsing mag uitbroei in 'n poging om die ANC of sy beeld te vernietig.
Afrika, die diaspora en die res van die internasionale gemeenskap is besig met voorbereidings om die honderdjarige bestaan in solidariteit met die ANC en Suid-Afrika te vier. In 'n verklaring oor erfenis in Suid-Afrika is dit die moeite werd om te noem dat die eerste sekretaris-generaal van die ANC, Solomon T Plaatje, 'n belangrike letterkundige, prominente vertaler en briljante uitgewer was - om net 'n paar van sy bydraes tot die ontwikkeling van kultuur te noem. Dit is 'n integrale deel van ons erfenis.
Soos ons volksdigter dit duidelik gestel het, was storievertellers, nog vr die bestaan van die boek, die bewaarders van 'n volk se kollektiewe ervaring en geheue wat hulle kulturele waardes en erfenis gerig en benvloed het. In kort, selfs nog vr die boek was letterkunde 'n belangrike bewaarplek van 'n volk se geheue, en was kulturele waardes een van die belangrikste komponente van 'n volk se erfenis, en so is dit steeds.
Agb Voorsitter, laat my toe om hierdie Huis 'n vraag te vra ...[Tussenwerpsels.] Maak maar geraas aan daardie kant; dis goed. ... 'n vraag om oor na te dink: Hoe ver het ons vandag gevorder ten opsigte van geletterdheid en die leesgewoontes wat nodig is om die weg te baan vir leer en kultuur? Dit is geen geheim dat lees nie naastenby een van die gewildste nasionale tydverdrywe is nie.
Die Departement van Kuns en Kultuur werk saam met sy vennote in die Suider- Afrikaanse Ontwikkelingsgemeenskap en die Afrika-unie om museums en gedenktekens te bou en op te gradeer om die helde en heldinne van die bevrydingstryd te herdenk. Die Matola-monument en en -tolksentrum sal die Matola-inval van 1981, waartydens Suid-Afrikaanse vryheidsvegters deur die apartheidsregering gedood is, herdenk. Die ANC-regering en Algeri werk saam aan 'n projek wat Miriam Makeba, ook bekend as Mama Afrika, sal vereer.
Saartjie Baartman is in Frankryk uitgestal om mense te vermaak met wat as hoogs ongewone liggaamseienskappe beskou is. Sedert die begin van die 1940s is oproepe gemaak om haar stoflike oorskot terug te besorg, maar die saak het eers prominent geword nadat Stephen Jay Gould in die tagtigerjare The Hottentot Venus geskryf het.
Vir die eerste keer in die geskiedenis van ons land het alle kuns- en kultuurpraktisyns die reg om deel te neem aan die skep van openbare beleid en strukture wat hul lewens en bestaan regstreeks, en grootliks ook die gehalte van die lewe van die gemeenskap, raak.
Laastens wil ek ook s dat die Departmente van Kuns en Kultuur, van Basiese Onderwys, asook van Sport en Ontspanning ons landsvlag en ons volkslied moet uitbeeld deur dit 'n vereiste te maak dat elke huisgesin die volkslied moet sing. Baie dankie. (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)
[Ms L N MOSS: Chairperson, hon Ministers, hon Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, ladies and gentlemen, South Africa is rising from a turbulent history. For the first time since the fight for this coastline we are enjoying democratic freedoms. The clash between cultures does not necessarily lead to subjugation and domination. It can also lead to the substantive cross-pollination of ideas, words, customs, art forms, culinary art and religious practices.
This dynamic interaction has always played a role in cultural enrichment and has resulted in an extraordinarily fertile and unique South African culture, which has on so many levels joined our nation together in its linguistic, cultural and religious diversity.
A nation without a past is a lost nation, and people without a past are people devoid of spirit. Africa is today acknowledged as the cradle of mankind. In our part of the continent we have a rich and diverse past which only now is being appreciated for its complexity and diversity. Our heritage is indeed the foundation upon which we labour to rebuild our society.
Chairperson, my message today is to find peace within the wealth of our society. I urge hon members to participate in the many opportunities that are enjoyed by each one of us, our communities, our country and our continent. I want each one of you to consider how different in many ways your heritage is from that of your parents.
Think about the particular characteristics that bind you to previous generations; about themes and traditions that have shaped your life, for instance the freedom songs, slogans, poems and dances.
The principle of freedom of expression is a fundamental requirement for democracy. Rooted in freedom of expression and creative thinking, the arts, culture and heritage play an important role in the development of nation- building and the sustainability of our developing democracy.
The South African society has undergone a significant transformation. For those who say this transformation has not taken place: it has. In accordance with the principles of justice, democracy, nonracialism and nonsexism, every sector of our society is faced with change. While this may be irritating to some, it has brought hope to others that their needs, views and desires are now also part of the mainstream of South Africa.
South Africa's first democratically elected government has contributed to this process that was created by the first Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology.
For the purposes of Heritage Month the following applies, namely arts, culture and heritage. South Africa is indeed experiencing a cultural renaissance. Cultural expression and identity, such as language rights and access to land, are some of the most important issues of the day.
It is no surprise that the dominant themes characterising these fields share a commonality with themes elsewhere. Management of and access to finance present a huge challenge that we must deal with head-on. This renaissance in the South African arts is dependent on a policy which promotes fairness and is committed to the promotion of a consciousness that celebrates diversity.
Arts, culture and heritage cannot be excluded from this transformation process. Expressions in all art forms - from theatre to dancing, opera to cabaret, fine arts to artistic crafts, classical music to jazz, poetry recitals to lectures - are taking place throughout South Africa.
The country is rich in cultural diversity, making it an important destination for all lovers of art. A large number of art galleries are offering opportunities to well-known and unknown artists to display their talents. The Department of Arts and Culture aspires to develop and preserve the South African heritage in order to ensure social cohesion and nation- building.
On 8 January 2012 a year of festivities will be ushered in to celebrate the ANC's centenary celebrations, this despite any agenda that might hatch a grisly clash in an attempt to destroy the ANC or its image.
Africa, the diaspora and the rest of the international community are busy with preparations to celebrate this centenary in solidarity with the ANC and South Africa. In a statement on heritage in South Africa, it is worthwhile to mention that the first sectretary-general of the ANC, Solomon T Plaatje, was an important literary expert, a prominent translator and a brilliant publisher - to name just a few of his contributions to cultural development. This is an integral part of our heritage.
As our national poet put it clearly, before the advent of the book the storytellers were the keepers of a nation's collective experience and memory, who directed and inluenced their cultural values. In short, even before the book, literature was an important depository of a nation's memory, and cultural values formed one of the most important components of a nation's heritage, which is still the case.
Hon Chairperson, allow me to ask this House a question ... [Interjections.] Yes, make a noise on that side; that's fine. A question to ponder: How far have we progressed today in respect of literacy and the reading habits that are needed to open a way for learning and culture? It is no secret that reading is nowhere near being one of the most popular national pastimes.
The Department of Arts and Culture is collaborating with its partners in the Southern African Development Community and the African Union to build and upgrade museums and memorials to commemorate the heroes and heroines of the struggle. The Matola monument and interpreting centre will commemorate the Matola invasion of 1981, during which South African freedom fighters were killed by the apartheid goverment. The ANC government and Algeria are collaborating on a project to honour Miriam Makeba, also know as Mama Africa.
Saartjie Baartman was put on display in France to entertain the people with what were regarded as her highly unusual physical attributes. Ever since the early 1940s, calls were made to repatriate her mortal remains, but the matter only gained prominence after Stephen Jay Gould wrote The Hottentot Venus in the eighties.
For the first time in the history of our country all arts and culture practitioners have the right to participate in creating public policy and structures that directly affect their lives and livelihoods, and to a large extent also the quality of life of the community.
Lastly, I also want to say that the Departments of Arts and Culture, and of Basic Education, as well as that of Sport and Recreation should promote our country's flag and national anthem by making it a requirement for each family to sing the national anthem. Thank you very much.]