conference, Cape Town Convention Centre
25 May 2006
Let me start by expressing my appreciation to the hosts - the Commission for
the Protection and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and
Linguistic Communities - for inviting me to this important day, not only for
the Commission, but for our country, and indeed our Continent.
May I also take this opportunity to congratulate the Commission for the
vision and foresight in organising this event at this critical juncture in the
development of our people. In organising this event (I believe for the second
time) the Commission has been responsive to the prevailing trends in the world,
on the continent and in our country.
On the world stage, one has in mind the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Universal Declaration of Cultural
Diversity that was adopted in November 2001. The message coming out of that
declaration was to encourage cultural plurality and dialogue of cultures. It
sought to recognise cultural diversity as a source of innovation, exchange and
creativity, which constitute humanityâs fundamental strengths.
Within the continent of Africa, an African Cultural Charter driven by the
African Union (AU), amongst other things, calls for cultural diversity and
national identity, cultural development, the democratisation of culture, use of
African languages, the protection of African works and cultural heritage.
Nationally, the Commission is responding to the founding document of our
country, the Constitution. In its Preamble, the constitution says that South
Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity. Section 31, (1)
says Persons belonging to a cultural, religious or linguistic community/ may
not be denied the right, with other members of that community:
a) to enjoy their culture, practice their religion and use their language
b) to form, join and maintain cultural, religious and linguistic associations
and other organs of civil society.
The Act that gave birth to this commission specifically calls for the
Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic
communities.
This brief historical perspective is meant to contextualise the significance of
this event. Looking back, Programme Director, one can proudly say that we have
fought hard, fought long and eventually fought back to be where we are
today.
Mindful of our shameful past which has left us a painful cultural and
political legacy that divided our nation, and also looking at South Africa as a
kaleidoscope (myriad) of cultural, religious practices and beliefs, languages
and dialects spoken in the country, the challenge facing us is to forge nation
building, development and democracy. Within this nation building exercise, how
does one create an enabling environment that acknowledges, promotes and
respects diverse groups?
It is my considered view, Programme Director, that as we celebrate Africa
Day, we need to ask ourselves tough and sometimes rhetorical questions, for
instance, how do we celebrate an event (Africa Day) that seeks to accentuate
regional achievements whist being mindful of the âglobal trendsâ that seek to
convert the world into one global village. Could this be regarded as a
contradiction in terms?
On the other hand, can we avoid further Westernisation of the world
euphemistically named globalisation, if there is no prior affirmation and
authentification of regional achievements? The later view seems to say that a
celebration of Africa Day to be taken seriously, it must be organised with a
view to showcase Africaâs pre-colonial achievements, to discuss its current
challenges and map out its future plans.
Within South Africa current contradictions that we see need to form part of
the discourse of the day. In what way is a community a majority group
numerically because of its numerical strength, in spite of its cultural and
linguistic weakness (a minority) and vise versa? In the South African context,
is English a foreign language or a third language? What do we mean by
indigenous groups: the one âcreatedâ on the continent to the exclusion of those
âbornâ here? In the Eastern Cape we have many languages spoken by major
linguistic groups.
But some of these spoken words are regarded as languages while others are
termed dialects. Languages (e.g. IsiXhosa) were promoted by the missionaries,
while so-called dialects (e.g. IsiMpondo, IsiBaca) were suppressed. When is the
spoken word a language, and when it is a dialect? One can come up with many
other examples of these contradictions, Programme Director, that needs some
elucidation through dialogical engagement of this nature.
In conclusion, I trust that the enriching discussion that is going to follow
will move beyond being a mere intellectual discourse. As a government, we look
forward to being informed by these deliberations that hopefully will help us
formulate policy, prepare development programmes and eventually implement them
in order to make South Africa a better place to live in.
I thank you
Issued by: Department of Provincial and Local Government
25 May 2006
Source: Department of Provincial and Local Government (http://www.dplg.gov.za)
