The Minister of Arts & Culture Mr Nathi Mthethwa witnessed the announcement of a newly elected Dance and Theatre Advisory Committee on Sunday 1 February at Kopanong Conference Centre. The elected members of the Advisory Committee are: Mpho Molepo, Oupa Manamela (Gauteng); Sifiso Hlatshwayo, Mandla Sibiya (Mpumalanga); Moiloa Wits Lesenyeho, Jeff Maluleka (Free State); John Chisekula, Mahlubi Kraai (North West province); Mamela Nyamza; Thami Mbongo, (Western Cape); Benjamin Plaatjie, Letlhogonolo Nche (Northern Cape); Monde Ngonyama, Sonwabile Mfecome (Eastern Cape); Mashupe Phala, Precious Marobele (Limpopo); Lerato Molemong, Themi Venturas (KwaZulu-Natal). The historic Dance and Theatre Conference was hosted by the Department of Arts & Culture with the aim of assisting the two genres to organise themselves and development programmes that will help them grow.
The Advisory Committee committed itself to work for the sector and promote unity. Mthethwa congratulated the Task Team and committed that government would work with them. He encouraged them to attend the forthcoming Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa Conference. He also emphasised the role of arts, culture and heritage in society particularly education and said that the recent ANC Lekgotla deliberated intensely on the subject. "We are about to rise, people must watch this space," said Mthethwa.
The conference resolved that the National Theatre and Dance Advisory Committee must achieve the following targets in the next three years: establish creative societies and associations; develop a 3 year strategy for dance and theatre; ensure that community arts centres are used as incubators for development; arts education; accreditation of arts teachers; gender parity; labour and tax compliance issues; skills development; business and the arts collaborations; sector charter, review of national arts festivals, national sector awards as well as audience development. Veteran singer, Sibongile Khumalo said she was encouraged by developments in the sector. She said the indaba and the resolutions adopted gave her the confidence that government was taking the sector serious.
Mack Lewele
Cell: 072 450 5076
