Chairperson, hon Deputy Minister, Mr Paul Mashatile, hon members of the NCOP, MECs from different provinces, director-general, Mr Wakashe and distinguished guests, I would like to premise my input on the Budget Vote on Arts and Culture from the policy perspective of the ANC. As the ANC, we forthrightly support Budget Vote No 13.
The slogan, Ready to Govern, adopted by the ANC in 1992 as its policy, was reflected in arts and culture in the following manner. Policy recognises that well-stocked libraries should be established throughout the country, in both rural and urban centres, to encourage a reading culture among our people.
The ruling party and government are on record as promoting social cohesion since the dawn of democracy in 1994. The ruling party still recognises the importance of building social cohesion through heritage, arts and culture, and sports and recreation. It is through building social cohesion that you can truly build a nation.
South Africa emerged from a troubled history. For the first time since the conquest of these shores, we are enjoying democratic freedoms. The collision of cultures does not necessarily lead to the subjugation and hegemony. It may also lead to subtle cross- pollination of ideas, words, customs, art forms, and culinary and religious practices.
This dynamic interaction has always played a role in cultural enrichment, which has resulted in an extraordinarily fertile and unique South African culture that binds our nation in linguistic, cultural, culinary and religious diversity in so many forms.
South Africa has a challenge in the dominance of certain languages over others. There is a need to balance this factor. All languages are recognised and given the same status in the Constitution. All South Africans should be free to use any South African language of their choice in dealing with the state.
Within reasonable limitations, steps should be taken to ensure that no citizens who are illiterate or whose knowledge of a particular language is limited are thereby impeded in their access to public services or in the realisation of their rights as citizens.
Hence we are saying that even those languages spoken by South Africans such as Portuguese, Hindi, Hebrew, and so forth, should be respected and promoted.
In view of the fact that the film and video industry has been dominated by the influence of commercial forces, the ANC believes that a national control mechanism should be strengthened. Such a mechanism should be responsible for the administration of the public funds set aside for the development of the film and video industry.
This structure should look at the viability of establishing professional training centres in film and video, and conducting research into the structure of the industry in the local communities.
Therefore, further funds for the arts should be raised from the private sector and taxes that were raised on local and overseas commercial exploitation of our cultural background. The creative arts industry is one of the growing industries in our society. It is one sector that promotes entrepreneurship and contributes towards job creation, skills development and the economic empowerment of many people, especially those in rural communities.
Cultural development and international co-operation combined allocated a total of R139,5 million towards cultural development and investment in cultural projects. The committee challenges the department to assist the poor with developing business plans and accessing that funding.
According to the President, in his state of the nation address, the role of arts and culture he alluded to was encouraged by the vision of an inclusive society, a country which belongs to all, a nation united in its diversity, and people working together for the greater good of all.
Our beautiful Constitution is a cornerstone of our cultural development. There is a strong connection between our Constitution and the cultural principle of ubuntu. Our liberation as a people will be judged by the extent to which our cultures develop. As such, development does not take place in a historical vacuum.
The strategy and tactics document of the ANC articulated that cultural heritage promotion should encourage nation-building and unity in diversity. It must ensure that tradition, religious expression and other belief systems are consistent with the values of our country's Constitution.
We have managed to build a new South Africa through our acknowledgement of the cultural diversity and cultural heritage that exist in the country. This has allowed us to embrace our differences and to live in harmony with one another. Coming from Mpumalanga ...
... ngizikhakhazisa ngokuthi eMpumalanga siyithathela ehloko indaba le yamasiko, ubukghwari namagugu kufikela ekutheni ... [... I am proud that in Mpumalanga we take seriously the issue of culture, arts and heritage and ...]
... we are proud of Nothembi Mkhwebane who had the national Order of Ihamanga in silver bestowed upon her by the hon President Jacob Zuma on Freedom Day. She received this honour for putting Ndebele music on the world stage. [Applause.]
Singapheleli lapho, begodu sinoJinda obuya kwaNyamazane, ... [Furthermore, we also have Jinda who is from KwaNyamazane ...]
... who recently won a South African traditional music award for the best traditional album in Siswati.
Asipheleli lapho, Sihlalo, sithi thina njengabantu ababuya eMpumalanga ... [Furthermore, Chairperson, as people coming from Mpumalanga we say ...]
... our MEC, Comrade Shongwe, is so serious about libraries that four new ones are going to be built in different municipalities and there will be upgrades in other municipalities.
In conclusion, South Africa is hosting a prestigious Fifa Soccer World Cup in June this year. The nations of this world will not only converge on our country, but will display their divergent cultures. South Africa took this opportunity to display its own cultures and this will be witnessed at the opening of the Fifa Soccer World Cup on 11 June 2010. Various forms of art will be presented to the whole world to admire and inspire.
I am thus excited about the hosting of the Soccer World Cup and its potential to present our culture to the people of the world. The ANC will continue to encourage an exchange between the people of South Africa and the rest of the world.
In building a caring society, let us join hands and work together towards developing and preserving South African culture in order to ensure social cohesion and nation-building. The select committee supports the Budget Vote. I thank you. [Applause.]