Media Releases 2009 - 2005
The South African government, through the Department of Arts and Culture views the FIFA 2010 World Cup as a significant opportunity to showcase our arts, culture and heritage to the world. As promised during our bid, we will present an African World Cup. The Final Draw is a very significant milestone in our journey to the world’s biggest spectacle.
At the occasion of the 6th meeting of the African World Heritage Fund Board of Trustees, the South African Department of Arts and Culture and the Fund invite all stakeholders to a function at Freedom Park in Pretoria. “We chose Freedom Park for this important function because it gives not only South Africans, but all humanity, the possibility to understand our common heritage”, says Themba P Wakashe, the Director General of the South African Department of Arts and Culture and Chairman of the AWHF Board of Trustees.
The function will introduce the AWHF to a wide audience and important players in ensuring sustainable development of the African continent through better protection and management of the cultural and natural heritage.
Regrettably the Department of Arts and Culture has withdrawn its support from the Miriam Makeba commemorative events planned for the 7-9 November.
The Makeba family had approached the Department for support of the commemoration and the honouring of the late Miriam Makeba, Mama Africa, as we mark the first anniversary of her passing. The Makeba Family had already started working with Morris Roda Productions when the Department agreed to provide support.
We had hoped to still honour Mama Africa on the anniversary of her death on the 9th November through supporting an event initiated by her family. However, we have not been provided with the necessary assurances as to the state of readiness that would have made this event possible.
Johannesburg: On 11 September 2009, the Minister of Arts and Culture, Ms Lulu Xingwana and the Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashatile met role players in the music industry at Bassline, Newtown. The meeting was attended by prominent artists such as Caiphus Semenya, Letta Mbulu, Arthur Mafokate, Sibongile Khumalo and Mara Louw, among others.
Facilitated by the Director-General of Arts and Culture, Mr Themba Wakashe, the meeting focused on challenges facing the sector. The artists lamented the slow place of transformation in the sector and limited air play that South African music receives. Most importantly, artists complained about lack of funding and training opportunities.
July is Moral Regeneration Movement Month and the Minister of Arts and Culture Ms Lulu Xingwana will, on Saturday 11 July 2009, launch the month’s programme to the public at an event in Polokwane, Nirvana Hall, Limpopo.
July has been chosen by the Moral Regeneration Movement to be the month in which South Africans are reminded of the importance of positive values and the responsibility of creating moral communities, to ensure lasting democracy, peace and prosperity in Africa.
The Moral Regeneration Movement was launched in April of 2002, established as a Section 21 Company with the then Deputy President, Now President Jacob Zuma as its Patron.
Mr Vikas Swarup, the outgoing Deputy High Commissioner of India to South Africa and author of the world acclaimed novel, Q & A will speak at a public lecture. The lecture is the second in a series of public lectures hosted by the DAC Book Club to mainstream literature as part of the national discourse.
The novel has been adapted to a movie, Slumdog Millionaire with resounding success. Earlier this year, the movie won 8 Oscars and is hailed as the “Film of the Decade”. His second book, Six Suspects will also be turned into a movie.
Swarup’s lecture entitled Adaptation from script to screen is his last public appearance in South Africa before he departs for Japan where he will posted as a diplomat. The lecture will take place as follows:
As the lead institution in the preparations and implementation of Freedom Day celebrations, the Department of Arts and Culture would like to state that reports of crowds heckling President Kgalema Motlanthe are untrue. They are misleading and aimed at creating sensationalism.
The masses of people present at the stadium knew that President Motlanthe was the main speaker at the Freedom Day celebrations. They had travelled many hours to attend the event and came there because they wanted to hear him addressing them and to celebrate 15 years of freedom.
Our congratulations go also to Litha Booi and Lungelo Dhladhla who complemented this success by taking the prizes for the Most Promising Actor and Most Promising Actress, respectively.
The film was nominated in ten categories from a total entry of 304 films. The selection of films was exceptional from many African countries such as South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Liberia, Ghana and Nigeria.
The competition provides yet another platform for African film makers not only to net work but to highlight and acknowledge their creative output. It is a noteworthy that the event was graced by the presence of legendary African-American Hollywood superstars, including Angela Basset, Danny Glover and Forest Whitaker..
The Minister of Arts & Culture, Dr Z. Pallo Jordan will announce plans in purchasing Downtown Studios in Johannesburg to turn it into a creative powerhouse for the creation and development of a uniquely South African musical sound.
This is part of the government’s creative industries strategies to help artists, especially musicians, not only to consider their discipline as a business enterprise but create opportunities for employment and economic self-reliance.
The event will take place on Friday 17 April 2009 at Downtown Studios, 62 Goud Street corner of Fox Street in Johanneburg from 10,30am.
The Minister of Arts and Culture, Dr. Z. Pallo Jordan has announced that a new National Council for Libraries and Information Services will be appointed by March 2008.
The purpose is for the new council to finalize the development of a Library Transformation Charter that was initiated in August 2006.
“The development of a Transformation Charter is a process that requires thorough planning and consultation with all relevant key players so that it can be representative and reflect the diversity of our nation.”
“Significantly, it has to be driven by a legislative structure which will monitor all processes involved.”