Madam Speaker;
Honourable Members;
Honourable Premier;
Arts and Culture stakeholders
I am pleased to stand before this House once again and present the budget for the Department of Arts and Culture. This time I do it with renewed vigour and energy having headed this portfolio for the past three years and thereby learnt the challenges facing the arts and culture sector.
This afternoon I will be presenting the budget for Sport and Recreation which I must emphasise for the benefit of this House and the public at large that these for now remain two separate departments headed by two Heads of Departments under one ministry, though, for which I am responsible as a political head.
Madam Speaker, I wish to start my speech by borrowing from St Francis who said:
"He who works with his hands is a labourer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands, his head and his heart is an artist," of which I think is befitting for this occasion.
Arts and culture is an amazing tonic, where unity in diversity becomes more than an expression, but a concrete manifestation of a shared value system based on the spirit of Ubuntu and community solidarity. Although the arts and culture interventions and programmes implemented by the department make a direct impact on the people's lives, we also need to appreciate arts and culture for its aesthetic beauty for it gives impetus and support to the rich indigenous traditions of the province that are being acculturated.
As a department, we have conceptualised and packaged initiatives that are latent with the development of artists, cultural practitioners and administrators that will swim in the sea of creativity, who remain anchored firmly in using their ingenuity to drive the competitive interest to a level that will ensure self sustainability and economic prosperity.
Building on the past
We will certainly build on our achieved successes in the recent past and accelerate our cultural and library infrastructure programmes to open greater access, expand the skills development and aftercare edifices, to contribute towards the awareness about infectious diseases, diversify the moral regeneration and social cohesion programmes to alleviate the rampant economic deluge and spiralling unemployment and poverty within a climate of economic breakdown.
Madam Speaker, Honourable Members this budget outlines how the Department of Arts and Culture will, in a very pragmatic way, respond to the priorities that the provincial government has set for itself for the next five years, all underpinned by our goal of eradicating poverty. It, in an unambiguous way, outlines rural programmes aimed at improving service delivery through rural infrastructure development, developing skills and institutional capacity, developing cooperatives working with the Department of Economic Development and Tourism as well as supporting non farm economic activities.
As arts and culture we are adamant that we have a contribution to make through our programmes in fighting crime and creating safer communities. Our contribution in "skills for all" is massive and this has been our focus area all these years. Our programmes are also geared towards creating decent work and ensuring economic growth through the promotion of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and co-operatives. I believe as a Department of Arts and Culture we are natural custodians and leaders of nation building and good governance and that is demonstrated through the programmes that we deliver.
With this canvass in front of you, I would now advance from programme to programme and highlight the flight path of the Department, commencing with Administration.
Programme 1: Administration
The administration component can be complimented in ensuring that it set the machinery in place to support the core service delivery units. It refined and aligned its service delivery environment, completed the organisational review processes, with the development and implementation of the macro and micro organisational structures. This financial year we plan to fully capacitate our staff to roll out the Massification Induction Programme (MIP) that will respond effectively, economically and equitably to the needs of the internal and external stakeholders. Just as the President in the State of the Nation Address remarked that "This administration will insist on putting people first in service delivery. We will ensure courteous and efficient service from front-counter staff in the provision of services in all government departments."
The department filled 93% of the 84 advertised posts in 2008/09 financial year. The ship has 444 officials aboard and it is expected to advertise a total of 38 posts in line with the budget to enhance and support its current strategy.
Although on the national grid the gender disparity is 32% within the public service at senior management and in the ranks of decision making, I am happy to announce that we stand at 40% of female representation at SMS level and moving closer to the 50% threshold by the end of this financial year in 2010. In terms of disability, the Department is intending to reach the required national target of two percent of disabled people at all levels by 2010.
The department has currently employed four disabled people (one percent of the establishment).It is envisaged that the target of two percent will be met and probably exceeded by 2010 with the development and implementation of the Departmental strategy on the implementation of employment equity initiatives and targets.
The Financial Management unit is staffed with competent and committed individuals who ensure maintenance of the applicable systems, policies and controls in line with the PFMA and other relevant legislation. This has contributed to an unqualified audit report for two consecutive years, 2006/07 and 2007/08 and we are aspiring towards keeping this record intact for future years.
Programme 1 continues to put in place, in a progressive manner, systems and tools to strengthen accountability, monitor and evaluate programmes and to provide sound support to our core functions so as to speed up service delivery. We are strengthening our monitoring and evaluation systems and have established appropriate structures to track departmental and programme performance. We have placed greater emphasis on this aspect in line which what Presidency and provincial Cabinet are doing. Our Fraud and Prevention Strategy is in place and its implementation is underway. We do not want fraud to undermine the good work we are doing for the citizens of the province.
Programme 2: Cultural Affairs
Cultural Affairs consist of two vital sub programmes, namely Arts and Culture and Language Services.
Madam Speaker and honourable members, the creative industries have an amazing potential to unlock opportunities for economic growth and thus increasing GDP in the province. We will be sharing with members the envisaged Provincial Creative Industries Growth Strategy.
Provincial Creative Industries Growth Strategy
With the provincial priority of creating decent work and ensuring economic growth being emphasised, the department will finalise and implement a Provincial Creative Industry Strategy and also develop an Action Plan that will deliver on the Strategy. As part of the strategy, the Film Development programme will be linked to 2010 programme which will see artists that are legends from five municipalities receiving training, with 200 youth becoming direct beneficiaries. The Theatre Development programme will target 14 groups throughout the province to gain further development in aspects pertaining to stage management, performance, and production skills whilst the choral music development programme will be expanded with 130 choir groups provided with training and platforms to showcase their talent.
The Provincial Choral Indaba which is being organised in partnership with the national department of Arts and Culture will deliberate on choral music issues with a view to growing this genre. The Youth Fashion Project is a brand new initiative with six emerging fashion designers afforded opportunities to enter the mainstream sector and linked to established market runways for product expansion and extension.
Expanding opportunities and growth for local performing and non performing artists
Honourable members, the Department has package a delicate mixture of events coupled with programmes to build on the job creation label that has been mustered up, whereby women, youth and people with disabilities are given a centre stage. The commitment by the Department to target key events, like the MTN Jazz Festival, the River Arts Festival, the Art in the Park, the Kizo Arts Festival, Dolofees, Crown Gospel Music convention, Ugu Music festival, Ushaka Marine and Hilton Arts Festival are aimed at creating sustainable livelihoods for arts and culture practitioners. The opportunities for artists that have been supported and trained, including crafters to share cultural and artistic spaces with professional and semi professional artists is bridging the gap between the emerging and professional artists. A budget of R4,3 million has been allocated for this purpose.
Regional Office Management and Training Programmes
The Regional Office Management component of the Department which manages the regions have all placed specific emphasis on the investment in the human capital and community structures to really hammer in the economic output for survival and simultaneously encourage mass participation and involvement of women, youth and people with disability to advance equity and promotion of a new found patriot spirit in the country.
The department firmly believes that training and skills development must respond to the requirements of the economy and to this end, we have engaged with the FET's in the province to roll out programmes in jewellery and design disciplines with the belief that sector will unleash a new cadre of design practitioners that will improve the entrepreneurial, business and financial skills as well as build the base on project management.
To this end a total of 10 learnerships, accredited and non accredited training programmes will be implemented in the key priority areas of Inanda, KwaMashu and Ntuzuma (INK), Msinga and Qhudeni have been reprioritised for major interventions. However, the intention is to roll this out to all parts of the province.
Music Song And Dance (MSD)
The popular MSD programme was initiated in 2008 and has certainly discovered a number of young and talented artists who are know receiving the tutelage and in the process, as a department, we are polishing these gems with the skills necessary to confidently enter more popular stages and the music industry. This programme also ensures mass participation in a programme that embraces the involvement and participation of young women, girls and people with disability and also keeps youth gainfully occupied and away from the street.
This programme also drives home the message that crime "does not pay". The total budget for the MSD programme is approximately R600 000 with a total of about 12000 youth participating in this programme. This programme will also be escalated to correctional facilities, where the performing and family reintegration will be addressed.
Bursaries
The department provided bursaries to students pursuing an academic qualification in the arts and culture disciplines. Over the 2009/10 period this programme will continue towards supporting the skills and human resource base and knowledge production that are essential to the development of the arts and culture sectors. A total of 10 bursaries for arts and culture will be awarded to the value of R10 000 per student.
Community Arts Infrastructure Development
Madam Speaker aligned to the Medium Term Strategic Framework of Rural Development and the provincial priority one on Rural Development, Agrarian Reform the Department will be accelerating its community arts infrastructure expansion programme. It has also developed a strategy for the equitable distribution of art centres in the province.
The process of consultation and the development of plans for the construction of the art centres at Osizweni in Amajuba District, Mbazwana in Umkhanyakude District, Ingwe in Sisonke District and Emnambithi in Uthukela District have commenced and this is anticipated to be completed over the MTEF with a budget of R26m. The building of arts centres must be seen as a major programme implemented by the Department to promote social infrastructure investment as a catalyst for economic investment to the GDP. The Department will be over the years expanding its social investment infrastructure to cover all parts of the province. The building of these arts centres is in line with my vision which I articulated in this House when I assumed office as the MEC in 2006 that is, to have at least one art centre in every District Municipality. The job opportunities generated through infrastructural projects are, no doubt, huge.
Institutionalisation of Arts and Culture
In order to expand the reach of the department's services to the arts and culture community within the province and simultaneously ensure that the broad goals of sustainable livelihoods for previously marginalised communities are realised certain initiatives have been implemented to improve the growth of economic activities in urban and rural centres of economic growth.
The department continues to provide funding to the following art centres: Indonsa Art Centre in Ulundi Municipality, Stable Theatre, Bat Centre and Ekhaya all in eThekwini Metro, Gobhela in uMziwabantu Municipality, Infusion in Umhlathuze Municipality and Rorkes Drift in Nquthu Municipality to the value of R3,9 million per annum.
These arts centres offer a variety of arts and culture programmes ranging from craft, visual arts, music, dance, drama, film, poetry to name but a few. Our support goes beyond just funding them to assisting in the development and promotion of programmes. Our aim is to transform community arts centres into independent and sustainable centres of excellence.
The Department will continue to support the Playhouse Company financially and sign a Memorandum of Understanding yearly to agree on programmes of collaboration, taking into cognisance the interest of our previously disadvantaged communities. Our working relationship with the Playhouse Company extends to as far as the sharing of resources is concerned, where practically possible.
The KZN Philharmonic Orchestra remains our icon which promotes the diverse classical music genre and also ensures the development of artists through the nurturing of local talent and skills as well as simultaneously contributing to the cultural and musical fibre of the province. Programmes are regularly hosted around the province, in far flung areas and a strong cadetship programme is in place. Our intention as a department is to sustain the work of the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra for generations to come.
Two new projects, namely, Isihlahla Sobuntu Indigenous Project and the KZN Indigenous Orchestra Yesintu were supported financially during 2008 and the same kind of support has been carried through to 2009/10 MTEF. These two projects create awareness about indigenous music instruments which form part of the implementation of Social Cohesion and National Identity Framework. On the whole a total of R4,7 million will be allocated to various programmes that support the arts in all the corridors of KwaZulu-Natal.
The South African Traditional Music Awards (SATMA) and Imvunge Choral Music Association will also be recipients of funding to promote the indigenous music of the province and reward excellence in the industry. The Department is already planning a festival on Isicathamiya later in the year in which the winners of Music, Song and Dance programme at regional level will participate. Similar festivals for Ingoma will also be held. The aim is to develop Isicathamiya and Ingoma genres in the province.
Madam Speaker, the Department will be playing a leading role in the planning of provincial events like Heritage Day Celebration which has been amplified by the Honourable Premier in the State of the Province Address, Umkhosi weLembe, Umkhosi Womhlanga, Umkhosi Wokweshwama, Umkhosi Wesivivane/Izithungo and Umkhosi kanoMkhubulwane, and in all instances, these events aim towards strengthening nation building and social cohesion. These events are cross cutting and certainly contribute to the nexus between tourism and culture development. They include the different tiers of government as well as the private sector. The department will continue to support these events.
Social Cohesion and Moral Regeneration
Madam Speaker, last year we developed a Moral Regeneration and Social Cohesion Strategy that is aligned to the national apex priority. Implementation of the Provincial Social Cohesion and Moral Regeneration Strategy and Action Plan will be accelerated during this financial year to address the issues of National Identity, Xenophobia, racism and moral regeneration through the Isihlahla Sobuntu Programme, the Sakhisizwe Programme, Music, Song and Dance Programmes and Intergenerational Men in Dialogue. Apart from those programmes the focus on promotion of National Identity, people with disabilities, cultural groups in multi cultural exposé and community festivals will gain momentum.
We will strive towards expanding the shared value system based on the spirit of community solidarity and a caring society as articulated by the Premier in his state of the province address. The National Minister, Ms Lulu Xingwana, announced during her Budget Speech that she will be launching the National Social Cohesion and National Identity Programme here in KwaZulu-Natal later in the year. This augurs well for our province.
As part of the social cohesion and nation building programme, the Department hosts the Wildfees, food tasting multi cultural programme which have become extremely popular. I have pleasure to invite all members to the hosting of this programme in here Pietermaritzburg this evening, where the diverse communities, including the Chinese, Indians, Zulu, etc, embark on a people to people celebration that fosters cultural tolerance, appreciation and respect. Social Cohesion is enhanced through the hosting of the Eastern Rendezvous which is a multi-linguistic programme of music, song and dance that embraces the five linguistic groups within the Indian community in the province.
The programmes link up with other national and provincial formations such as the Correctional Services and the Youth Commission to make our pluralistic society engage in far more integrated fashion.
Lakshmi Day Celebration
It is very significant that I am presenting my budget on the day that Hindus throughout the world are celebrating Lakshmi Day in honour of the Hindu Goddess of wealth, Mother Lakshmi. The Hindu Goddess Lakshmi, is personified not only as the goddess of fortune and wealth but also as an embodiment of loveliness, grace and charm. She is worshipped as a goddess who grants both worldly prosperity as well as liberation from the cycle of life and death. My sincere good wishes to all Hindus present in the House today as you celebrate this important day.
Grants-in-aid
The Department will provide grants in aid to arts and culture non governmental organisations through the KwaZulu Natal Arts and Culture Council. Last year we allocated 36 organisations across the province and this year we will disperse R1,2 million to women, youth and people in rural communities. These organisations are engaged in various activities whose course is to promote and develop arts and culture in the province. Their activities range from craft development, visual arts, arts exhibitions and festivals. Most of these organisations are doing magnificent work and have advanced to level of creating short term job opportunities for artists.
Youth and Women Empowerment Programme
The department will be providing starter packs consisting of beads to youth and women as a means of creating job opportunities and generating income. We will target those who have organised themselves into cooperatives and will work with the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDT) to assist and support those who want to form cooperatives. We are also partnering with the DEDT in the Integrated Craft Hub project which primarily aims to organise the craft industry in the province thus maximising opportunities for women and youth to yield maximum benefits form it.
Visual Arts Programme
We are also supporting visual artists with different art work such as painting material, silk screening equipment to Arts Galleries and Exhibitions thus providing opportunities for them to sell their products from professional platforms. This therefore poses a challenge to the artists to produce quality material so that the department's canvassing of galleries and exhibitions can produce optimum results. This programme particularly focuses on the youth.
KZN Music House
It is exciting to report to this House gigantic progress that has been made on the establishment of KZN Music House, a project fully funded by the Department of Economic Development and Tourism but driven collectively by both departments. I am mentioning it here because of the huge benefits this project will have on our artists. As I speak the pilot project of auditioning up and coming artists at regional level in underway with two regions, namely, Southern and Western Regions, having been completed already.
Twenty groups focussing on gospel and maskandi genres have been identified for recording and the Department will provide further training and development should shortcomings be identified among these groups. I am also elated to inform this House that as part of the project the Department has recorded four professional artists including an international group called Pappaya, specialising in Zulu traditional songs. Their CDs are already hitting the market on radio and in music shops.
Language Services
Last year I informed this house that the Provincial Language Policy was approved and the four official languages, namely, isiZulu, English, isiXhosa and Afrikaans, were being given greater emphasis in it. I can confidently articulate to this house that most of the provincial government departments and municipalities have started implementing the language policy and have appointed language practitioners, if not, are in the process of doing so to implement the policy and ensure that the four official languages are used equitably.
The department has established the KZN Provincial Language Committee which consists of competent and experienced language practitioners whose role is to monitor the implementation of the Provincial Language Policy, facilitate the development of institutional language policies by governmental bodies as well as to advise the MEC on language matters.
The promotion of multilingualism and the development of indigenous and previously marginalised languages are in line with the moral regeneration and social cohesion campaigns of the Department and remain key deliverables of the department. We will continue rendering Translation, Interpreting and Editing (TIE) services to sector departments in an effort to improve access to government services and information. The Department is acutely aware of the need to have skilled language practitioners and to this end graduates and undergraduates are engaged in departmental mentorship programmes.
2010 interventions
The 2010 Communication Booklet is currently being developed and it consists of IsiZulu terms that are used from day to day. These terms will be given their English, French, Spanish and Portuguese and Mandarin equivalents. As we are heading for a golden year of soccer in the country, the development of a soccer term list will respond more favourably to the Language Practitioners, sports people, the general public and tourists during the Soccer World Cup. Further, the Department is currently developing a database of performing, non-performing, visual arts and craft products to be made available for 2010. This is one way we are trying to market and sell our products.
Mass Literature Development Programme
The Literature Development is critical to the development of any nation. It cements and installs a culture of belonging and pride for a people that have experienced ages of segregation and separation from the mainstream economic, political and social hub. The department has rolled out the mass literature development programme that involves a process of identification of budding writers through literature writing workshops, competitions and the formation of writing clubs.
Through the protracted engagements with budding writers in the district municipalities in the province, the historically marginalised languages will be developed and preserved whereby books are produced and sales of these books bringing about royalties. It is anticipated that approximately 60 major works will be published before 2014.
Outsourcing Translation and Interpreting Services
In line with the fifth provincial priority that aims at creating decent work and ensuring economic growth, the Department will be outsourcing its translation and interpreting services. Job opportunities for freelance translators and interpreters, particularly for IsiXhosa and Sign Language will be attracted and this would contribute towards developing the human capacity within the province. A total of 55 interpreters and translators will be registered in the Departmental Database which will ultimately contribute to an increase in employment within this specialised vocation.
Geographical Names Programme
The department will be playing a pivotal role in the process of finalising the geographical names programme to give greater impetus to the nation building exercise. The Provincial Geographical Names Committee and District Geographical Names Committees have been appointed to facilitate the naming process. The Department provides administrative support to these committees to ensure acceleration of this programme. We will be working closely with the South African Geographical Names Council as they will be conducting workshops in provinces to get buy in from stakeholders and find ways of improving the naming process.
We call upon the communities and municipalities to participate actively in these hearings and meetings that are organised either by national, provincial or district structures to discuss geographical naming issues. These issues are both sensitive and critical so direct and active participation by stakeholders will enable them to get first hand information and contribute meaningfully in taking the process forward. We must remember that these names are found within communities and municipalities hence their involvement is vital. The naming process is an integral part of nation building so let us all take part in it.
Programme 3: Libraries and Archives
This programme mainly includes Library Services, Archives, Recapitalization of Community Libraries (conditional grant) as sub-programmes. The affiliated libraries and book collections in the province will increase to 70 000 new items this year. The department will support 173 affiliated libraries with books, magazines, audio visual material, training and support on an annual basis.
Community Library Infrastructure Programme
The library infrastructure programme will realise the completion of construction of Tugela Ferry, King DiniZulu, Malangeni and Mbazwana libraries as well as upgrade of Umzimkhulu and Danhouser libraries. Construction of KwaNdwalani library will commence soon whilst planning for construction of libraries at Umzumbe, Maphumulo, Vulamehlo and Ntambanana has already begun. Our aim is to upgrade at least one library and construct two new libraries per year.
All our infrastructure programmes – i.e. building of both libraries and arts centres are designed to embrace the principles of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) which in the main entail provision of job opportunities and skilling of workers. The department will be commencing with the greening strategy of having all libraries expanding the green concept in terms of electricity, materials.
Community Library Conditional Grant
The implementation of the Community Library Services conditional grant will continue in 2009/10, in terms of the new approved business plan. The purpose of this grant is to enable communities to gain access to knowledge and information that will improve their social, economic and political situation. The conditional grant of R34,147 million was approved by the national department for 2009/10 and the National Treasury's proposed conditional grant provisional allocations to our province for the MTEF 2010/11 to 2011/12
are R38,282 million and R40,579 million respectively.
In order to accelerate access to libraries in the short term where there are no libraries, the Department has launched its wheelie wagons concept, whereby the Multi Purpose Community Centres and rural communities are target to ensure that the service is provided to encourage the culture of reading and information access.
The department will expand upon its cyber cadet programme which entails providing library internet cafes and appointing computer assistants to man these cafes. A total of 20 new libraries will be provided with computers and internet connectivity during this financial year to enable the public to gain access to email and internet facilities free of charge.
Education resource support to libraries
The department will be providing relevant library material to support primary education and literacy initiatives in community libraries throughout the Province. This will also include the provision of information resources for school curriculum and tertiary education distance learners. 73 permanent collections of education support material, supplemented each year, will be provided in community libraries.
A total of four Toy Collection libraries will be established in support of Early Childhood Development in eMondlo, Bulwer, Esikhaleni and Gamalakhe. A further 12 mobile library collections or (Wheelie Wagons) will be established in rural areas containing relevant support material for primary educators and learners covering five centres in the Ugu District Municipality. The procurement of the Mobile Library Bus to target Dundee and Nquthu areas clearly demonstrates the department's commitment of reaching out to communities in rural areas and provide access to information.
Brocade Library Management System
Madam speaker, I am proud to enlighten this house that department will be migrating from the Provincial Automated library management system to the state of the art brocade system from Belgium, which will link up all affiliated libraries in maintaining, cataloguing, tracking and monitoring of essential library functions. Library users can in one point view and access all library material in other libraries for borrowing purposes. The beauty of this system is that anyone can actually access the library material and resources at the comfort of their homes and offices through the internet.
2010 soccer libraries
In the build up to the most popular global event to be in stage in the country, the 2010 soccer world cup and to maintain the legacy of the event beyond 2010, the Department will be designing and producing 2010 soccer display for libraries at five libraries to be identified to the value of R750 000.
Documentation Centre
Honourable Members, I think it is quite appropriate that I update this House on the progress made regarding the relocation of the Documentation Centre. At the moment the artefacts and library material are properly and professionally stored in safe and appropriate places, unlike before, while we are busy preparing an alternative centre for displaying the items. Consultation is being done through a Steering Committee, which is inclusive, to ensure that the outcome of this process is acceptable to our stakeholders.
Archives services
The department will be intensifying its campaign to highlight the importance of records management in governmental bodies and the significance of proper management and care of public records for posterity. The Provincial Archives Services is mandated to provide archival services to the entire Province, through conducting registry and records management courses with different spheres of government. This directorate is also in the process of developing the KwaZulu- Natal Provincial Records Management Policy that will improve the management of records in the province.
We want to intensify and expand our Oral History to cover, among other things, Imilando Yezizwe Zamakhosi and struggle veterans. The information we gather through the Oral History programme is invaluable and a treasure for generations to come.
Another major project that has been undertaken in most parts of the Province is the recording of the "Rites of Passage" (Isongo Lempilo) – this is basically the documentation of the life of a person from birth to death, taking into account all the stages, traditions and rituals that are performed during that period.
National symbols
Madam speaker, as part of the department's mandate to promote the national symbols, we will be embarking on a rigorous campaign during the Heritage month introducing a colouring in poster starter pack consisting of crayons, poster material, and brochure for children on the national symbols through the our Library Services.
The archives services will be expanding this campaign through packaging a DVD that targets all schools in the province on the national symbols. We will be working closely with our counterparts at national as well as the Department of Education to ensure that flags and the national anthem are provided to all schools. We will also be engaging communities and municipalities on a “Fly a Flag Campaign” which entails identifying visible public places and mounting a national flag as an effort to create awareness about it.
Madam speaker, it is now my pleasure to table the budget of the Department of Arts and Culture which is as follows:
Programme 1: Administration: R65,977 million
Programme 2: Cultural Affairs: R72,215 million
Programme 3: Libraries and Archives Services: R118,240 million
Grand total of all programmes R 256,432 million
Madam Speaker, I wish to thank my Head of Department, Mrs Stella Khumalo and her team for their unwavering support and commitment to the task at hand, and most importantly my family for their care and understanding especially given the pressure under which we work. I would have failed in my duty if I did not thank all the women in the province particularly the ANC Women’s League for they support and contribution to my personal development. Some contributions in life cannot be quantified but can better be measured by what comes out of them in terms of the quality of the product.
I must reiterate that like a painter that continuously layers pigment on the canvass in search of developing a masterpiece, we are definitely striving towards realizing the full potential of the arts and culture sectors. As long as the unemployment levels and poverty line remain at a high, our plan will be far from completion. We remain prudent and on course in this cycle and the year ahead to meet the demands of a growing the economy, fighting disease, ensuring food security and empowerment of youth and women.
I would like to leave this house with a remark by John C. Maxwell as we soldier on:
"Where there is no hope in the future, there is no power in the present", so let us flex our muscle and energise the 18 million hands of the province in the present, so that we may inch closer to a better and prosperous tomorrow.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
31 July 2009
