Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP)
Honourable members of the NCOP
Comrades and friends
The Ministry of Arts and Culture welcomes the opportunity to participate in this debate, broadly to reflect on the meaning of Heritage Month to the people of South Africa.
Heritage Month represents an opportunity for us as a nation to celebrate our rich and diverse cultural heritage. It is an opportunity to reaffirm once more that; what unites us far outweighs that which divides us. It is a time to celebrate the profound power of our cultural heritage to help in the renewal of our society and to promote patriotism.
Indeed, throughout this month we must use our common heritage to promote national unity, reconciliation and social cohesion, appreciating fully that; South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white. The theme for this year's Heritage Month is: Celebrating South Africa's Craft, our Heritage.
During this month, as the Department of Arts and Culture, we pay tribute in particular to the crafters, many of whom are found in the rural areas, who have made a significant contribution to the development of our country’s rich heritage. This year's theme presents an opportunity to highlight the socio-economic impact of the crafts industry in our country.
It also seeks to encourage further development and investment in the crafts sector of our economy. This theme recognises that; historically crafts have been part of the South African economy, especially in the rural areas. It takes into account that; until recently the role that crafts have played in our economy has not been fully acknowledged.
It is for this reason that this year’s Heritage Month activities are designed to raise awareness about the socio-economic impact of the crafts sector. The Department of Trade and Industry estimates that South Africa's craft sector alone contributes about R2 billion or 0,14% to South Africa's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually.
In addition, the sector provides jobs and income for approximately 38 000 people through an estimated 7 000 small enterprises. The crafts sector can also be used as a catalyst for rural economic development and for fostering expanded participation in the economy, especially by women. This is particularly significant since one of the key priorities of this term of governance is the development and revitalisation of rural economies.
Furthermore, as the art of designing and producing craft products is handed down from generation to generation, members of communities have an opportunity to work together and impart knowledge and social values to each other, especially the youth. This contributes towards social cohesion and instils the culture of respect, discipline and Ubuntu. It is for these reasons that we continue to say that crafts represent both an economic activity and a cultural practice.
Honourable chairperson, while crafts make a significant contribution to the economy it is the middle persons and not the crafters themselves that derive the most benefit from this sector. Another challenge facing this sector is that currently, most raw materials used in the production of crafts products, are imported and therefore unaffordable for many people.
Access to markets also remains a challenge for practitioners in this sector. Our task going forward is to find appropriate responses to these and many other challenges facing this sector. Since 1994, government through numerous agencies has provided resources to help develop the craft sector of our economy. In the Department of Arts and Culture, through our Investing in Culture Programme, we have spent over R300 million over the past three years to support various crafts projects.
This has led to the creation of jobs and contributed towards building sustainable livelihoods. Working together with all stakeholders, including the private sector, we must improve on these initiatives.
Our country is privileged to be home to no less than eight World Heritage Sites namely; Mapungubwe, Robben Island, Vrede Fort Dome, Cradle of Humankind, Cape Floral Region, Richtersveld, Isimangaliso Wetlands and Ukhahlamba Drakensburg. We have a responsibility to use these sites to further stimulate tourism in our country, thus contribute to the national effort to create decent work and build sustainable livelihoods.
In this regard, the Department of Arts and Culture and the Department of Tourism have begun a process aimed at developing synergies between heritage and tourism. It is important that we do this because tourists are often attracted to a particular area because of its cultural and heritage significance.
Honourable Chairperson, the highlight of Heritage Month is the Heritage Day celebrations which will be held in the Sekhukhune District at the Ntwampe Sports ground in the Moroke village in Limpopo. The Deputy President, Honourable Kgalema Motlanthe is expected to address this event.
I take this opportunity to wish you Honourable chairperson and Honourable members a happy Heritage Month.
We look forward to your continued support as we celebrate our country's rich and diverse cultural heritage.
Thank you.
Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture
17 September 2009
