Budget Vote 12: Arts and Culture
Speech by Ms Hilda S Msweli MP
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Old Assembly Chambers: 19th June 2009 Honourable Chairperson,
The Department of Arts and Culture aims to develop and preserve South African arts and culture to ensure social cohesion and nation building. The allocation to this Department has increased from R2,16 billion in 2008/09 to R2,62 billion in 2009/10. It is important that these funds are spent wisely during this difficult economic period, so wasteful spending and under spending must not be tolerated.
South Africa is blessed with a rich and diverse cultural heritage and this is one of the defining features of our nation. It is important that these different cultures and traditions are not forgotten, they must not only be preserved and confined to museums and festivals but also kept alive and continue to be a part of our lives. With the 2010 World Cup the rest of the world will be focused on South Africa so this is the ideal opportunity for us to showcase our uniquely South African ethnicity.
There must be a greater effort to support and promote South African arts and cultural activities in all areas of our country and especially in the rural and underprivileged areas. This can have a positive social effect for the communities in these areas.
We have just celebrated Youth Day but our youth still have so many challenges and obstacles to overcome. I believe that arts and culture can have a positive effect on the lives of the youth but the biggest challenge is ensuring that they have access to facilities and organisations that promote these activities.
The IFP supports this budget vote.
I thank you.
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