Honourable Speaker, Mr SW Lubisi
Deputy Speaker, Ms VS Siwela
Honourable Premier, DD Mabuza
Members of the Executive Council
Chairperson of the House of Traditional Leaders
Members of the Provincial Legislature and Members of Parliament
Leadership of theM pumalanga Sport Confederation
Arts and Culture Stakeholders
Government officials
Invited guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Comrades
It is my pleasure to introduce this policy and budget speech for the Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation, taking a queue from the State of the Province Address presented by the Honourable Premier in February.
The policy and budget speech we introduce today will reflect the vision of the province in transforming the cultural and sporting landscape but will also epitomise the manner in which the aspirations of the millions living in the province more especially women and youth are going to realise their fully artistic, sporting and cultural talents.
We present this policy speech to provide hope and also create a rejuvenated platform in creating a vibrant cultural and sporting environment through ensuring total and well informed participation by all stakeholders in the promotion of our sporting and cultural sector.
Mpumalanga province remains dominantly rural and youthful thus compelling our strategies and plans to address these realities. Addressing these realities demand of us to be ready and prepared to channel the much desired resources to culture and sports causes and also have the clarity of mind, attitude, the necessary vigour and enthusiasm.
Honourable Speaker, cultural heritage is about the things, places and practices that define who we are as individuals, as communities and as a nation. It is that which we want to keep, share and pass on. This is the definition of our history which we should value and treat with respect. Any nation that does not value its heritage does not value its being.
The emphasis we need to make is that culture is just more than the arts and literature. To put into context, culture embraces everything from what we choose to wear each day to the values, beliefs and traditions of our families and communities. The language we speak, the things that move us emotionally and the sources of meaning of life are also about culture. According to the 1982 Mexico City Declaration on Cultural Policies, culture is ''the whole complex of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features that characterise a society or social group."
The work done by government since 1994 is a composite of the whole. The tributaries of projects and programmes implemented ever since the dawn of the new democratic order are aimed at improving the lives of our people and consequently achieve a better life for all. We are proud about the government's record on the services provided to our people but we are equally mindful of the fact that a lot still need to be done.
Honourable Speaker, one of the strategic goals of the department is to acknowledge cultural diversity and promoting unity by affirming, conserving and celebrating people's way of life while striving for moral renewal in our society.
Realising the implications and the far reaching consequences of these goals, the department sought to ensure that the necessary structures and systems are put in place in order to achieve the set objectives. The effective functioning and utilisation of structures such as the arts and culture forums established in all municipalities, Mpumalanga Arts and Culture Council, Provincial Geographical Names Committee and the Provincial Heritage Resource Agency are a prerequisite for achieving the set objectives.
During the 2010/11 financial year, we have ensured that the necessary support is provided to the structures that promote arts and culture such as the arts and culture forums, Izithethe Art Institute, M pumalanga Art Market, 60 cultural groups for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. We remain adamant that structures such as the arts and culture forums located in municipalities help in promoting participatory democracy and assist to sustain the development and promotion of arts and culture matters at the local level, thus integrating communities with the work executed by government.
In addition to the above, the department has established 50 arts projects based on the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) principles. These projects will be officially launched during the current financial year.
An amount of R2 million and 580 thousand has been set aside to continue to provide support to arts and culture structures in the current financial year. This includes support to be provided to Innibos, Barnyard Music Academy, South African Community Theatre, etc. Further we have realised that giving financial support to these structures is not enough and as a result the department will facilitate training for these structures in order to increase capacity in management and administrative skills.
Honourable Speaker the development of productivity and competitiveness of new entrants and existing workers across the creative industries is a milestone that we seek to achieve. As we do that, care will be given to ensure that we offer opportunities in a variety of areas such as Craft and Design, Music, the Performing Arts, Film and Video Production, etc.
For the 2011/12 financial year the department has made provision for the craft skills development programme on craft design and product development for 30 artists and crafters to complete a National Qualification Framework Level 2. All these artists and crafters will be drawn from the identified Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP) municipalities as we seek to address poverty issues. An amount of R1 million is set aside for this project.
Honourable Speaker, during the State of the Province Address the Honourable Premier said, "This year, we will commence with work on the establishment of a cultural hub that will contribute to the development of various performing arts genres such as theatre, dance, music, crafts and drama.” Let me take this opportunity and indicate that a research and feasibility study on the establishment of a cultural hub in the province with a view to increase access and contribute to socio-economic development and marketing of cultural products has been facilitated. The department is currently facilitating the purchase of a land on which the cultural hub will be built. It is our view that in the near future, district hubs will be established.
There are a number of both tangible and intangible benefits for a cultural hub such as attracting new patrons, driving economic impact through visitation, anchoring new development, creating a sense of place and social fabric, create educational opportunities, preserve cultural meaning and heritage as well as increasing the quality of residential organisations. We have set aside an amount of R2 million to ensure that the establishment of a cultural hub in the province becomes a reality.
It is an undisputed fact that Mpumalanga province prides itself with the abundance of flora and fauna, wild life and cultural diversity. This situation and others then present the province as the preferred destination for film makers. As a consequence to that, the department has for the past three years been making some ground work to ensure that in the end this sector is regulated. During the past financial year the department ensured the completion of the development of six scripts. These scripts will now have to be developed into short films and an amount of R800 000 has been set aside.
Through oral tradition we need to maintain the indigenous African musical and dance expressions that are distinct from the western cultures. The African music and dance are cultivated largely by our societies more especially the rural communities, villages and mine communities. The advent of urbanisation and the impact of western cultures have resulted in the decrease practice of traditional music and dance.
This means that traditional music and dance face serious threat of decline. Because of their political and cultural importance, the department has an obligation to ensure that the preservation of this cultural heritage is given special attention.
Kulonyaka wezimali ophezulu, umnyango ubeke imali engu R2.2 million ukulungiselela nokusingatha umcimbi wokusina nomculo wendabuko esifundazweni ngenhloso yokuvikela, ukukhulisa nokuthuthukiswa kwamakhono esinawo kuzinhlobo ezahlukene zobuciko bendabuko. Lomcimbi uzofaka amaqembu ezinhlanga ezahlukene atholakala kulesi sifundazwe ukuze kuthuthukiswe ukwahlukahlukana ngokwamasiko, ukubumbana komphakathi nokwakhiwa kwesizwe. Ukuhlunga kuzokwenziwa ukusukela emazingeni aphansi kuze kuqokwe amaqembu azongenela noma akhangise Emcimbini Wesifunda.
Honourable Speaker, we are obligated to provide support to develop, promote and sustain multilingualism within the provincial and local government departments in their communication and interaction with the public and also ensure redress for the historically marginalised official languages in the province.
Language shapes thoughts and emotions, determining one's perception of reality. Language is not only a vehicle for the expression of thoughts, perceptions, sentiments and values characteristic of a community; it also represents a fundamental expression of social identity. We will as the department during this financial year assist in strengthening civil society's participation in the development, promotion and protection of communities' cultural, linguistic and religious rights.
In order to achieve this imperative, we are going to provide the necessary support to structures such as the Mpumalanga Provincial Language Committee, Mpumalanga Writers Association, isiSwati and lsiNdebele Dictionary Units and the Bible Society. In order to meet the Constitutional requirements, the department is taking a lead in ensuring that there are proper structures for the coordination of language services in the province. The draft provincial language policy is now in place and the next step would be to establish a language unit that caters for various language services
Honourable Speaker, the reality of the matter today is that we are all challenged to respond to issues of morality and values as we seek to deliver the most needed services to our people. The manner in which we behave as government and as civilians is very critical to the type of societies we want to build. We have to be good people in order to have a good society. Morality impacts our everyday decisions and those choices are directed by our conscience.
Having said that, we need to continue to ensure that we support those who seek to provide our communities an opportunity to reflect upon and promote awareness on the values of the charter of positive values. Last year we hosted the uBuntu Moral Regeneration festivals in the three districts of the province and the theme centred in the advocacy on the charter of positive values in Building a Caring Society.
This year a Moral Regeneration Indaba will be hosted in the Nkangala District to allow all stakeholders an opportunity to reflect on work done, the challenges that still confront us and develop strategies for the future.
Honourable Speaker, the department will coordinate the social cohesion conversation series to be held in the three districts. The objectives of these conversation series are to lobby for public participation, share information and understanding on matters of social cohesion and nation building. The product of these series will culminate into aNational Summit that will be organised by the national Department of Arts and Culture.
In the past few years, the department has sought to redefine the concept of heritage by systematically identifying, developing and protecting the intangible aspects of our heritage. The honouring of the heroes and heroines of our liberation struggle by erecting cenotaphs in the three districts plus the identification and development of new heritage sites bear testimony to this point.
The successful execution of the Gert Sibande Legacy Project which included the upgrading of the Nomoya Masilela Museum and cultural precinct which houses the more than life size statues of Gert Sibande and Nokuthula Simelane was a fulfilling milestone.
Honourable Speaker the National Heritage Resources Act states that heritage helps us to define our cultural identity, have the power to build our nation, to affirm our diverse cultures, and to redress past inequities. It educates and deepens our understanding of society and encourages us to empathise with the experience of others. Sadly, recently the statue ofNokuthula Simelane was unjustifiable vandalised and brought down by thugs, but thanks to the South African Police Service (SAPS), who have brought them to book.
However, whether their intent was criminal or to obliterate this important part of our liberation history and perhaps to deny the simelane family to finally find closure to the disappearance of their daughter, such acts go against nation building and we condemn them in the strongest possible terms.
Honourable Speaker, the South African Liberation Route constitutes an important chapter in the history of the country. In order to ensure that we cover a significant ground on this history, the department will be commissioning and producing a comprehensive research report on the hitherto undocumented sites relating to the liberation heritage. This will be a three phased project that will be piloted in the Gert Sibande district. Further research in the remaining regions will be carried out in the subsequent years.
The department will in conjunction with the Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality, erect a more than life size statue of Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme; we will also renovate the Mahatma Gandhi Prison Cell and install an interpretive center which will include a giant bust of Mahatma Gandhi in the prison foyer.
The department will further facilitate the signing of a partnership with the Indian government to ensure their involvement in our attempt to recognise, honour and celebrate the contribution of Mahatma Gandhi in the struggle against apartheid.
The department will be hosting the Bridging Ages National Conference during this financial year in conjunction with the Bridging Ages International Organisation based in Sweden, Bridging Ages South Africa of which the department is a member and the Department of Education. Bridging Ages is an international organisation which utilises history to understand life and society of today by bridging the past with the present towards the future.
Following our successful bid to host the 2012 World Gold Panning Championships, the department in partnership with the South African Gold Panning Association will host the South African night in Poland this year. This will afford us an opportunity to showcase the country and Mpumalanga in particular as a tourist destination of choice and to display our readiness to host the 2012 World Gold Panning Championships in Pilgrims' Rest.
Honourable Speaker, every year on the occasion of the Freedom Day Celebration, the State President bestows National Orders of the Order of Mendi for Bravey, Order of Ikhamanga, the Order of the Baobab, the Order of Luthuli, the Order of Mapungubwe and the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo. This year Mpumalanga Province was honoured to have three of our people honoured during this occasion. All of them are sitting in the gallery.
Mr Josia Thugwane received an Order of Ikhamanga in Silver for his excellent achievement during the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996 and his contribution to the field of athletics. Mr Ray Chikapa Phiri also received an Order of Ikhamanga in Silver for his excellent achievement in the field of music and contribution to the struggle against apartheid. Mr Masana Sam Nzima received an Order of Ikhamanga in Bronze for his excellent contribution in photo journalism and putting the brutality of apartheid police in the international spotlight.
Honourable Speaker, the management of information has long been regarded as the domain of librarians and libraries. Librarians and information professionals are trained to be experts in information searching, selecting, acquiring, organising, preserving, repackaging, disseminating, and serving. However, professionals in information technology and systems have also regarded information management as their domain because of the recent advances in information technology and systems which drive and underpin information management.
In responding to the above, the department has integrated the two scenarios to ensure that the library services we deliver take cognisance of the current development in the technological arena. As a result of these, ICT has become integral in the construction and consequently delivery of a library infrastructure, whether in an urban or rural area.
Our programme to deliver library services is strategically conceptualised to address imperatives such as creating knowledge repositories, improving knowledge access and transferring, enhancing the knowledge environment and managing knowledge as an asset. Honourable Speaker, it is very important to ensure that both knowledge and information are stored, more often in the form of documents so that we improve areas such as knowledge intelligence, research tools and discussion databases.
We remain on course as a department to ensure that whilst we address the current backlog on library services, we also transform the library material to reflect the South African history without discriminating against any race and also respond to contemporary issues. During the 2010/11 financial year an amount of R26 million was spent on purchasing 159,029 library material such as books, periodicals, etc.
It is during the same financial year that the department was able to hand over a new library in Silindile worth R7,6 million and completed the upgrading of Nelspruit at R2,2 million and KwaMhlanga Regional Libraries at R373,000 as well as the Mzinoni public library at R3,5 million. The department also procured one mobile library for Ehlanzeni district at a cost of R3 million and 270 thousand which service some of the rural areas in Nkomazi and Bushbuckridge. Honourable members, it goes without saying that by making these services available to our communities more especially the rural communities; contributes in the reshaping of our communities thus creating improved living conditions.
Honourable Speaker an amount of R36 million has been set aside during the 2011/12 financial year for the establishment of new libraries and upgrading of existing library structures. Three (3) new libraries will be built in Masoyi, Libangeni and Klarinet.
The construction programme will also see the completion of the Driefontein, Hluvukani, Botleng and Perdekop libraries. All these libraries will be constructed in rural areas and are as per the municipal Integrated Development Programmes. Shatale, Middelburg, Nelspruit and Ermelo libraries will also be upgraded.
Further an amount of R5 million is set aside to continue to transform the library material in our libraries by procuring books and periodicals and R3 million is set aside to purchase furniture and equipment.
Honourable Speaker, in preparation for the installation of internet in public libraries the department provided cabling to 46 libraries during the previous financial year. It also provided hardware and software to 49 libraries as well as 30 libraries with head count system, which will give libraries correct statistics on library usage.
An additional amount of R5,5 million will be utilised for the ICT programme in ensuring that all the 18 municipalities are provided with internet services and the Library and Information Management System (SITA) and IT software and hardware.
The promotion of the culture of reading will also be given attention in ensuring that our young people are given an opportunity to benefit in the reading programme Fundza for fun. The following reading programmes were implemented through Fundza For Fun project: 3 children's books were translated to SiSwati, IsiNdebele and Xitsonga; three events used to promote libraries: The Greatest train race, International Literacy Day and Readathon and South African Library Week; 41 libraries established friends of the library from communities as way of promoting library ownership which will assist in reducing the problem of burning libraries in the province. An amount of R3 million is set aside for this financial year for Fundza for FUN.
A document entitled Social Cohesion: A South African Perspective by the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance refers to social cohesion as those factors that have impact on the ability of a society to be united for the attainment of common goals". Our mandate as a department is to strive for unity, nation building and social cohesion. We are all well aware that these imperatives cannot be achieved through participation by government and civil society alone but by also ensuring the participation of the individual members of our societies.
The successful hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup has demonstrated to the whole world that a united nation has the capacity to achieve more than it has planned. Our observation was that the success of this World Cup was due to the passion and the spirit of patriotism shown by our people.
We believed in ourselves and the world observed with appreciation as we were outclassing all pessimists about our capacity to host big events without hindrances.
Honourable Speaker, the end of the 2010 FIFA World Cup defined a new era for us as we continue to venture and implement programmes on sport. We have, as a department identified legacy projects and plans are in place to implement these projects. As we do that we provide support to the Soccer Legends in order to participate in sport programmes and support Mpumalanga Coaches Association in order to take care of the interest of coaches in the province.
Further, playing attire and equipment will be provided to 144 clubs throughout the province. We have already started to provide office equipment to Sport Councils and we will continue with this project until all Sport Council in the 18 Municipalities and 3 Regional Sport Councils have benefited. This support will also be extended to the newly elected Mpumalanga Sport Confederation. We provide these services so that the structures assist the department in coordinating sport service in the province.
Honourable Speaker, you will agree with us that the successful hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup games in Mbombela Stadium has opened up opportunities for us to host Major Games and Events. This must be credited to the people of Mpumalanga for always attending games at stadium in large numbers and the work done by the organisers to ensure that everything run smooth.
We have seen the hosting of the METRO FM Awards, PSL and Rugby Games as well. We will continue to render our support for the hosting of high profile games such as the Nedbank Cup final on 28 May 2011in Mbombela Stadium and the Vodacom Challenge game between Orlando Pirates and Tottenham Hotspurs on 19 July 2011. Honourable Speaker we are equally eager to bring a Rugby Game of the Springboks before going to participate in the 2011 Rugby World Cup
Honourable Speaker, in strengthening institutional mechanisms to support sport development in the province, the Mpumalanga Academy of Sport will be established in Emakhazeni Municipality. This is as a result of the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between Mpumalanga and Portugal. The areas of cooperation relates to Capacity Building, Sport Science and Exchange Programme, Fight Against Doping in Sport, Coaching and Monitoring, Sport Management, Infrastructure Development and any area of mutual interest. An amount of RSO million has been allocated to the department to kick-start the project.
In order to make reasonable impact in sport and recreation we have decided to choose and prioritise eight (8) sporting codes in the province and dedicate resources for the advancement of these codes. The eight prioritised sporting codes are Football, Netball, Chess, Rugby, Swimming, Volleyball, Athletics and Gymnastics. Working together with the Mpumalanga Sport Confederation we will ensure that there is compliance with government demarcation of boundaries. This means that federations will be required to have structures at municipal, regional and provincial level.
Further, training in sport administration, governance and coaching will be provided to the federations of the prioritised sporting codes. Let me take this opportunity and introduce and congratulate the new Leadership of Mpumalanga Sport Confederation representing all federations and sport councils in the province. The leadership is with us in the gallery.
Honourable Speaker, during the 2010 FIFA World Cup we launched Football Friday to support Bafana Bafana as they were participating in this prestigious event. Likewise, this year we have launched "Magnificent Fridays" to mobilise our people from all the corners of the province to support the Cricket, Netball and Rugby World Cups taking place this year. The Cricket World Cup has come and gone. Even though the Proteas could not reach the finals, we take this opportunity to congratulate them for representing our country and to at least reach the knockout stages.
When we beat India there was hope that we were going to reach the finals and consequently win the World Cup but it was not to be because sport and competition is about who wants it the most in a specific game. We now throw our support to Netball and Rugby and with the preparations done, we have hope that we will be able to defend the Rugby World Cup we won in 2007 and also do well in theNetball World Championship.
Honourable Speaker, in September 2011our young people will represent the province during the National South African Games to be hosted by Limpopo Province. We take this as a mini- Olympics and hope we will do well as a province and improve from our previous performance.
All the work and efforts put forward to deliver sport services whilst ensuring social cohesion will culminate in a Provincial Sport Awards Ceremony aimed at honouring sport men and women of the province who have done well in different sport categories in the current financial year and as a result put Mpumalanga on the map.
Honourable Speaker, we have set aside an amount of R38 million and 382 thousand for both the Siyadlala Mass Participation and the School Sport Programmes.
In ensuring that the Youth, Women, Elderly and the disabled stay healthy, we will continue to implement the Siyadlala Mass Participation Programme in the 18 municipalities of the province. A special programme for the elderly called the Golden Games will be implemented to benefit the elderly people.
We have already donated a soccer kit to a soccer club of elderly women in Mbombela Municipality. This is part of government's healthy life style programme, hence we are working in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Development.
Honourable Speaker, the implementation of the Indigenous Games (Intonga, Neuva, Morabaraba, Juskei, Kgathi and Kho-Kho) in all municipalities in the province is part of our agenda to preserve our cultural heritage. We have realized a marked interest in this game more especial with the practice games we had with the North West Province. In partnership with the Department of Education, National Youth Development Agency and other youth structures, we will pilot Youth Camps in order to contribute to the development of young people through recreation.
Honourable Speaker, a key component in the development continuum is the school community and in this regard, working together with the Department of Education, we have planned to introduce the School Sport Mass Participation in all the 67 circuits in the province. A league System focussing on Football, Netball, Chess, Volleyball and Rugby will be introduced.
The School Sport Mass Participation Programme will see 1143 educators and volunteers being capacitated on Sport Administration, Event Management and First Aid. Training will also be done on Generic Coaching for Chess, Volleyball and Rugby. To deliver this programme, we are going to recruit 237 volunteers the majority of them being the youth and women.
Honourable Speaker, this year the department was the presenter of the Loskop Marathon. This is one of the biggest marathons in the country attended by athletes not only from the country but also from other parts of the continent. Let me take this opportunity and extend our congratulation to Mr Seun Moleshia, a 25 year old son of the soil hailing from Middleburg who won the Loskop Marathon this year.
The cash prize for breaking the 6 year old record set by Josia Thugwana was R100 000. Mr Seun Moleshia clocked 2 hours, 44 minutes and 37 seconds missing the record by only 14 seconds, we hope that next year he will be able to beat the record. Let me also take this opportunity and wish good luck to all our athletes who will be participating in this year's Comrades Marathon.
Honourable Speaker let me take this opportunity and present the budget of the department for the 2011/12 financial year. The overall budget appropriated to the Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation is R337 million and 102 thousand. An amount of R232 million and 223 thousand constitute the equitable share and R104 million and 879 thousand is from the Library, Sport and Recreation Mass Participation Grants.
Programme 1: Administration
An amount of R86 million and 504 thousand has been set aside to provide for the overall management and administrative support of the department, in accordance with applicable national and provincial policies, the PFMA, the Public Service Act and other legislation and policies.
Programme 2: Cultural Affairs
Honourable Speaker we have set aside an amount of R54 million and 608 thousand to facilitate the establishment and support for institutional structures, accelerate transformation through community governance and participation, promote cultural tolerance, social cohesion, cultural diversity and nation building.
Programme 3: Library and Archive Services
A budget of R82 million and 614 thousand has been set aside to facilitate the construction of libraries, procurement oflibrary material, equipment and furniture.
Programme 4: Sport and Recreation
The department has also set aside an amount of R113 million and 376 thousand to coordinate mass participation through the Siyadlala and School Sport Programmes and also to support High Profile Games and host the Sport Awards.
Conclusion
Honourable Speaker, the need to understand the current challenges need not be under estimated because whatever we do today defines and affects the future. As we seek to define the current trajectory we should move from a premise that articulates clearly our programmes and projects to such an extent that everyone is convinced that the end product is the creation of a non- racial, non-sexist and democratic society.
Our programmes should be aimed at creating integrated societies characterised by a sense of neighbourhood and shared responsibility. Mpumalanga epitomises a diverse community requiring the participation of all to make it a model we can be proud of.
Building successful societies require leadership which is resolute in belief and action. Social cohesion and nation building need to be an agenda for all of us. We need to ensure the unity of purpose over the unity of convenience for the latter cannot be sustained. Respected leaders are always trusted and followed. But followers are always not content in following a leadership that cannot be trusted.
Honourable Speaker, we have set targets and milestones for the 2011/12 financial year. We have given reasons why the targets were set and we are now required to gear ourselves towards ensuring that these targets and milestones are realised. We are committed to achieve these targets and milestones and will activate the available resources to achieve these targets and milestones.
Let me take this opportunity and extend my gratitude to the Premier of the province, Honourable DD Mabuza for the leadership provided in ensuring that the achievement of set goals is possible. I would like to appreciate the continued support and advises received from the Members of the Portfolio Committee which gives us courage to face the daily challenges as we seek to improve the lives of our people.
The dedication demonstrated by departmental officials under the leadership of the Accounting Officer, Ms SP Mjwara, gives hope that if we continue working together as a team, we can succeed to maximise our performance and consequently achieve the constitutional imperatives. The undivided and unwavering support from my family and the staff in the Office of the MEC is much appreciated.
Support from the religious leaders, House of the Traditional Leaders and all of you, is always strengthening and comforting.
Siyabonga, siyathokoza, rea leboga, thank you, bale dankie.
Source: Mpumalanga Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation
Policy and budget speech for 2011 presented by MEC for Culture, Sport and Recreation Ms MNS Manana
Province
