Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture (South Africa), Ntombazana Botha
15 June 2007
Programme Director,
Distinguished members of the Memory of the World (MOW) Committee and Delegates
to this Workshop,
Friends and Comrades
Good afternoon!
I am happy to be back here to participate in the closing session of this
Workshop. First of all, I would like to thank all the delegates who came from
all over the world and set aside time to attend this workshop. I understand
that delegates, basically, had to perform two very important tasks. The first
task, of course was to evaluate the nominations received for inclusion in the
Memory of the World list, and the second task was to establish a Regional
Committee of the Memory of the World for Africa.
Both these tasks, I believe, have been successfully accomplished and I wish
to congratulate all the delegates for a job well done and also congratulate the
newly elected members of the Africa Regional Committee. We wish you all the
best in the work that you will be undertaking and would appeal to member
countries to give you all the support you will require. We cannot be
complacent.
Programme Director, I am so happy to have witnessed the tabling and
acceptance of the Draft Tshwane Minute. Personally I regard this Tshwane Minute
as a milestone in that it signifies the beginning of a partnership for close
collaboration between all the countries which are determined to put matters of
preservation of heritage, whether tangible or intangible, high on their
development agenda.
My understanding is that the Tshwane Minute seeks to articulate a way
forward in terms of how countries may address the issue of preservation of our
valuable heritage. We must assist those countries who have now become members
of the Regional Committee of the African continent. May I, again, remind you
that the work is just beginning! As we all know, Africa is a continent of an
incredibly rich and diverse heritage that should be preserved for posterity. It
is a pleasure to inform you that some African countries have already started to
assist each other to safeguard part of our oldest heritage. One example of this
collaboration is the very important SA/Mali project of the Timbuktu
manuscripts. This project was launched in May 2003 and is very important for
all the people of Africa and, indeed, for the whole world. Here in South Africa
the project is receiving high priority and is regarded as a Presidential
Project.
Our President appointed members of his executive and a team of highly
trained specialists to oversee its implementation. I am proud to say that I am
one of those people charged with the responsibility of providing leadership to
the Project. We are presently in discussion with Tunisia who has also expressed
an interest in assisting with the restoration and conservation of the Timbuktu
Manuscripts.
Programme Director, it is pleasing to note that Africa is taking action
regarding the issue of preserving its heritage both tangible and intangible.
One example is that of the successful repatriation of the remains of Sarah
Bartman from Europe to South Africa in 2002. This clearly demonstrates to all
of us that we cannot be at peace with ourselves as Africans until we assured
that our heritage is returned to where it rightly belongs.
The Tshwane Minute will, therefore, hopefully, be a catalyst for many more
projects to be concluded successfully. My plea to you all is that you
collaborate with one another because if you don't do that you might not achieve
what your objectives. The 8th meeting of the International Advisory Committee
(IAC) has now come to an end and, I'm sure that a lot of important work has
been done during these last few days. I'm told that the recommendations will
now be forwarded to the Director-General of United Nations Educational
Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
Tomorrow, South Africa will be commemorating the 31st Anniversary of the
Soweto Student Uprisings. This is a very significant date in our historical
calendar. It's a day when we reflect on the past, when we assess the progress
we have made as a country to improve the quality of life of our children and to
chart a way forward to ensure a bright future for our young people who are,
indeed, the future leaders of this country.
Programme Director, On behalf of the South African Government and the
Ministry and Department of Arts and Culture, I would like to thank all the
speakers who shared their wisdom and information with the delegates at this
workshop. In particular, I wish to thank Mr Abid (the Head of the MOW Programme
at Unesco) and his team for the invaluable input they made to provide insights
into the operations of the MOW Programme worldwide.
Special thanks to you, as the delegates, who deliberated on these very
important matters. Thank you, also to the organisers of this workshop, and all
those who were responsible for the logistical arrangements, management of this
event and communications. To all of you I say, well done, keep it up! Merci
beaucoup!
I wish you a safe journey back home. Au revoir!
I thank you
My colleague, the Minister of Arts and Culture, Pallo Jordan, the National
Commission for Unesco (the Department of Education[, the South African Memory
of the World National Committee members, which includes: the National Archives,
Freedom Park, Heritage Chief Directorate in the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DAC), International Relations Chief Directorate in the DAC, National
Commission for Unesco, Department of Science and Technology (DST), South
African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Archives, Iziko Museums, Northern
Flagship Institution (NFI), and South African Heritage Resource Agency
(Sahra),staff of the National Archives of South Africa, Events and
Communications sections of the Department of Arts and Culture.
Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture
15 June 2007
Source: Department of Arts and Culture (http://www.dac.gov.za)
