Minister Nathi Mthethwa, once again you have been called upon to show responsibility and determine the future of South Africa' Sports, Arts & Culture. You have been called upon to heed a clarion call once made by our legendary Moses Kotane, 'that the future of South Africa is in our hands, and it will be what we make of it.'
You have been challenged to draw the line between two crucial choices; to be a nationalist or to continue being a patriot. The challenge is understanding what Sydney Harris puts to us and he had this to say; 'The difference between patriots and nationalists is that the patriot is proud of his country for what it does and the nationalist is proud of his country no matter what it does. He says the first attitude creates a feeling of responsibility but the second creates a feeling of blind arrogance......'
You are, in my view, called upon to take responsibility and determine the future of this sector in our country, to make South Africa one of the greatest of nations and to ensure that at all material times the cultural and creative sector contributes positively in the affairs of our country and that it continues to ensure the creation of sustainable jobs, social cohesion and economic development. Congratulations Nyambose. The SA Cultural Observatory commits to continue working with your department to ensure the effective mapping and valuing of the socio-economic impact of the South African creative industries.
SACO Executive Director, Ms Unathi Lutshaba.
Sporting events are more than moments of competition, national pride, and entertainment. They are economic activities that can stimulate tourism, create employment, support local businesses, and generate revenue across multiple sectors of the economy.
Umntwana womgquba a term traditionally used in the Nguni language that means “born out of wedlock,” but nowadays it is used to emphasise that one is born kwisintu. As lontwana, I look back on my own adventures: sometimes I pat myself on the back, and sometimes I wish I could redo them.
Each September, South Africa turns its attention to the rich cultural tapestry that defines our nation. Heritage Month is a time to honour the traditions, languages, histories, knowledge systems, customs and creative expressions that have been passed from generation to generation, while recognising that our heritage is not confined to the past.
My first encounter with heritage at the Mandela Bay Development Agency was, appropriately, somewhat uncomfortable. It began with cleaning. The Gale Monument, the Horse Memorial and the Queen Victoria statue became my first practical introduction to the business of preserving history.
