The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture EC together with the national department, invited the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) and various stakeholders such as CCIFSA, EC Arts Veterans, ECPACC and The Bayworld Museum, within the sector to convene for an information sharing session aimed at capacitating the department to better represent this sector on a local and international level with a further focus on building active relationships between the department and representing organisations.
Key questions were raised, mainly aimed at addressing the current gaps that have been identified to be challenging the Sport, Arts, Culture and Heritage sector. Additionally, concerns were raised about having existing frameworks be a true representative of the needs of key role players in the sector to ensure that the national department offers adequate support to the provincial sector.
In closing Ms. Tinyiko Khosa (DSAC Chief Director) from the International Relations office within DSAC expressed that collaboration and partnerships between them, other relevant government departments, and all other cultural and creative industry role-players, within the developmental role are envisaged by the White Paper for Arts, Culture and Heritage.
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.
