15 June 2007

Programme Director
Distinguished members of the 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 have 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 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 organizers 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, Dr. 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 DAC; International Relations Chief Directorate in the DAC; National Commission for UNESCO; Department of Science and Technology [IKS]; SABC Archives,; Iziko Museums, NFI , and SAHRA. ,staff of the National Archives of South Africa, Events and Communications sections of the Department of Arts and Culture.

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