Debate by: Hon. Princess PATN Buthelezi; IFP MPL
Tuesday, 02 May 2017
KwaZulu-Natal Legislature; Pietermaritzburg
Honourable Chairperson,
In acknowledging the Budget allocation of R874.068million to the Department of Arts and Culture, I would like to quote William Bennett, Former US Secretary of Education who said:
“The arts are an essential element of education, just like reading, writing, and arithmetic…music, dance, painting, and theatre are all keys that unlock profound human understanding and accomplishment.”
This quotation is most pertinent when one considers the important role that arts and culture play in our lives. Through this quote we are being advised not to relegate the importance of arts and culture to the side lines of education. It advises us to give equal importance to the role that arts and culture play in our quest to achieve a progressive society grounded in a well-balanced education system.
The objective of the Department of Arts and Culture is correctly chosen as it refers to nation building and social cohesion which are key components of progressive and successful nation.
Social cohesion can only be achieved through understanding each other’s culture and history. This is where the Department of Arts and Culture has a vital role to play. This department has the task of preserving works of art and literature for the use of generations to come. It is for this reason that the IFP is of the view that more funding should be allocated to this department.
The establishment of new libraries and the maintenance of existing infrastructure are costly and adequate funding has to be made available. As the IFP we are happy to see that the department will be receiving R167.350million over the MTEF period for the construction of the Archive Repository in this city.
Another key objective of this department is to protect the cultural heritage of KwaZulu-Natal. The IFP urges the Department to do all in their power to ensure that the heritage of all who have contributed to its development receive proper acknowledgement. There we wish to urge that more attention must be paid to our heritage sites. Because, if they were to disappear, we shall have done injustice to future generations.
Hon. Chairperson; every year on the 24th September the people of KwaZulu-Natal come together to celebrate their multiculturalism which makes this Province a special place. On this day too, the Zulu Nation remember the departure of that military genius of all times who founded the Zulu nation; His Majesty King Shaka. King Shaka is an internationally recognised African leader and a great warrior. Therefore we urge the government to consider the improvement of his grave-site in KwaDukuza so that it properly portrays his stature. And as we know the King’s grave site attracts visitors from across the globe and thus it contribute to boosting our tourism industry.
Hon. Chairperson; one of the core service delivery mandates of this department is to instil a culture of learning and reading through the provision of community based libraries. Thus the IFP wishes to urge the Department to do its best to ensure that even our rural communities have access to these facilities. We believe that, in the absence of permanent structures, the Department can consider stationing libraries in religious centres and community halls in addition to mobile libraries.
The Department of Arts and Culture is tasked to lead and coordinate efforts to promote national identity and social cohesion. We need to invest in such a way that our investment results in thriving communities that ultimately can stand on their own and exist in harmony. Culture must be rooted in the realities of our people, in the daily lives, struggles and victories. Creative industries are critical for our country and for nation-building. They create critical opportunities to uplift and empower our people, especially the youth.
Honourable Chairperson, the department needs to work together with communities to ensure that the aspirations of our people are actualised. The IFP believes that by working with communities we will be able to better understand the cultural diversities that exist and be able to respond more effectively in ensuring a better life for all our people including the youth, women and people with disabilities.
The IFP is confident that the arts and culture sector has an important role to play in the economic growth of our province. The global economic meltdown forces us as a nation to look within our province for opportunities. Our people are highly talented in the creative arts and in music. The department needs to create enabling environments within communities for talented individuals to maximise their skills and turn them into income generating initiatives. This essentially means the implementation of the principle of “Self Help and Self Reliance” which the IFP advocates. Through such an initiative our people will be able to sustain themselves during these difficult economic times. This is possible even in areas where people have minimum or no formal education. In this way we can alleviate poverty and give dignity to our people.
Honourable Chairperson, we wish to urge the Department of Arts and Culture to do more to empower young, budding artists. We wish the Hon. MEC to ask her colleagues to always ensure that in government functions, up-and-coming artists are also given space to show-case their talents. In fact we should favour them more than the established artists at its events. There are many talented artists in our rural areas that need exposure.
This also applies to service provides who provide facilities like stage, sound, catering etc.
The other challenge that faces us in this sector is the fact that the entertainment industry is dominated by a few multinationals which make huge profits, yet cultural workers who are the real creators of music, films, drama, poetry and crafts in our province are exploited throughout their lives and they end up being given a pauper’s funeral. We must work together to fight for transformation and equity in the creative and entertainment industry. We must work together towards transforming the entire industry, where black artists also have ownership rights through the value chain of this important industry where black artists and not multinationals and business managers decide what to produce or create.
Hon. Chairperson, another serious challenge which faces the arts and culture industry music piracy.
Recently everyone was crying for Sfiso Ncwane, Mandoza and other legends who have passed away but one wonders how many of those who were crying have let those legends down by supporting those who sell fake music CDs and DVDs. Piracy is a disease that is killing the music industry.
We must all engage in a campaign to urge communities to say “no” to piracy! We instil in our communities that, if someone loves a particular artist, they must be prepared to go to the shops and buy the original CD’s or DVS’s and listen to better quality so that the artist also benefits. Sending words of condolences to the families of the deceased is not enough if we are not campaigning against music piracy that is depriving artists of legitimate revenue. In every street corner in towns and cities you find people selling illegal copies of music CDs and DVDs for as little as R10 or R20 each. These charlatans who are destroying the music industry must be arrested.
KZN is blessed with a rich and diverse cultural heritage and this is one of the defining features of our province. It is important that these different cultures and traditions are not forgotten. They must not only be preserved and confined to museums and festivals. Rather they must be kept alive and continue to be part of our lives. Celebrating our Heritage should not be something that happens only during Heritage Month.
We wish to urge our people to revive their lost and forgotten folk dances and songs. The students and the youth must also seize every opportunity to take part in cultural events and learn the significance of cultural practices. Cultural activities of all our citizens must be promoted in our schools so that we can achieve an appreciation of our cultural diversity. The present generation should not forget its cultural heritage under the influence of modernisation.
It is against this background that the IFP supports all cultural events such as uMkhosi woMhlanga, uMkhosi weLembe, uMkhosi wamaGanu and others.
In conclusion, allow me quote former United States President Barack Obama who said: “The future belongs to young people with an education and the imagination to create”.
I thank You
