The Minister of Arts and Culture, Paul Mashatile announced the Interim Committee for the South African Creative Industries Federation. This move is an attempt to assist the arts, culture and heritage sector to be organised so that it can effectively deal with the challenges it faces. These include funding, piracy, exploitation, lack of social security and lack of recognition as workers.
The members of the Interim Committee are Yvonne Chaka-Chaka (Chairperson), Mabutho Sithole (Deputy Chairperson), Sello Galane, Mpho Molepo, Bulelwa Bam, Mandla Balisa, Ramadan Suleman, Freddie Nyathela, Sello Maake ka Ncube, Portia Mashego, Mokena Makeka, Vuyisile Mshudulu, Eugene Mthethwa, Dodo Monamodi, Florence Masebe, Andre Le Roux and Jyoti Maistry. The responsibility of the Interim Committee is to facilitate the process of establishing the Federation and mobilise the entire sector nationally to ensure inclusivity and unity.
Mashatile further announced that the Department of Arts and Culture would grant the Interim Committee R5 million operational budget and a Secretariat to ensure that it performs its duties efficiently.
"We are talking about something serious here. We want a Federation that will be a legal entity with an office and address, proper financial management and programmes that address the needs of the sector. Government has no intention to manage the Federation, we are merely assisting the sector to organise itself so that it can take its rightful place in the economy and society at large. This Federation will not be a government agency, it will be a body made of representatives elected by and accountable to the creative sector", said Mashatile.
The Minister urged delegates to work together to ensure that the Federation is established. He said the Department of Arts and Culture was included in the government Economic Clusters because Cabinet appreciated the role of the sector in economic development and job creation.
"The arts will never be the same from today, it's now in your hands", concluded Mashatile.
Interim Committee Chairperson, Yvonne Chaka Chaka said she was honoured by the responsibility given to her and the Committee. She urged everyone with ideas and skills to work with her Committee.
"Minister, I promise you that we will account for every cent of the R5 million grant. Nobody will misuse the funds under my watch. Let us make this work, we owe it to our children", said Chaka-Chaka.
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