HERITAGE, NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES:

PRESENTATION TO THE SELECT COMMITTEE

22 JUNE 2005

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INTRODUCTION

THE HERITAGE CHIEF DIRECTORATE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FOLLOWING:

Heritage Institutions (Museums, NHC and SAHRA)

Legacy Projects

Living Heritage

South African Geographical Names

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HERITAGE INSTITUTIONS

DAC provides subsidies to heritage institutionsAlmost 80% of heritage budget goes to heritage institutions DAC oversight on strategic plans, quarterly reports and annual reportsRecently conducted workshops with council members and the CEOs of institutions on corporate governance

(Heritage Institutions cont/)

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REVIEW AND ALIGNMENT OF HERITAGE LEGISLATION

DAC has started the process to review, align and amend heritage legislation

Overlaps and duplications of mandates

Institutions mainly affected are SAHRA and NHC

(Heritage institutions cont/)

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NATIONAL AUDIT

SAHRA has been tasked to conduct an audit of movable and immovable cultural propertiesImportant to determine the national estateWill lead to better protection and management of cultural assetsWill be a basis for developing a national policy on securityWorking with SAPS, interpol and SAHRA to address security challenges

(Heritage institution cont/)

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PROVINCIAL HERITAGE RESOURCES AUTHORITIES

Provinces have established Provincial Heritage Resources Authorities –section 24 of the NHRA Process to transfer assets, rights, liabilities and obligations has begun–Section 58(10)Assets register has been developedComprehensive plan of action has been developed Deadline is 31 March 2006Fully capacitated and operational PHRAs

(Heritage institutions cont/)

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GRAVES OF VICTIMS OF CONFLICT

Identify graves of victims of conflict

Restore/renovate graves of victims of conflict

Rural and Urban renewal

Job creation

Social Cohesion and Nation building

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LEGACY PROJECTS

Cabinet approved nine legacy projects since 19988 were managed by DAC:

- Samora Machel Monument: Mbuzini- Mpumalanga - Nelson Mandela Museum: Qunu-Eastern Cape - Luthuli Museum: Groutville-KZN - Ncome Museum: Nquthu-KZN - Women’s Monument: Pretoria-Gauteng - Freedom Park: Pretoria-Gauteng - Khoisan Legacy Project: - Constitution Hill: Johannesburg-Gauteng

(Cont/)

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1 Constitutional Hill was managed by the city of Johannesburg

Almost all are complete except the Khoisan project

All were labour intensive projects and created long-term and temporary employment

Developing a new portfolio of legacy projects

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LIVING HERITAGE/INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

Emphasis has been on Tangible Cultural Heritage

In 2000 the Minister appointed a panel of ethnomusicologist to develop strategies for collecting and promoting indigenous music

Since 2003,DAC has embarked on a process to collect, preserve and promote living heritage in SA

Working with universities of Zululand, Fort Hare and Venda

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UNIVERSITY OF VENDA OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

INDIGENOUS/TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES

Research on indigenous knowledge/traditional practices

Research on indigenous food, dance and music

Participation of local communities

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UNIVERSITY OF FORT HARE ICONS OF SOUTH AFRICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE AND THEIR STORIES

Icons of South African Cultural Heritage/Living Human Treasures

Revitalization and restoration of cultural traditions

Research on music, dance and indigenous instruments

Participation of local communities

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UNIVERSITY OF ZULULAND MUSIC AND DANCE

Training in skills and art of indigenous musicThese include:- wedding songs- hunting songs- war songs- clan songsAmahubo and various forms of Zulu danceParticipation of local communities

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PARTNERSHIPS WITH AFRICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE TRUST

Zindala Zombili competition

National Heritage dance and music

Promote excellence in the performance of indigenous dance and music

Social integration and unity

Breaking down cultural barriers

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CHALLENGE WITH REGARD TO LIVING HERITAGE

Developing a comprehensive policy and legislation to preserve and promote living heritage

Appointment of the panel to develop such policy and legislation

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GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES

Pre 1994 Policies and LegislationSA Geographical Names Act of 1998Post 1994 TransformationThe significance of the Provincial Geographical Names CommitteesLack of adequate finances and human resources within the PGNCSNeed for a legislative amendment – to cleary define powers and duties of the provincial geographical committees.

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CURRENT INITIATIVES 29th Session of the World

Heritage Committee

10-19 July 2005, South Africa hosts the 29th Session of the WHC in DurbanFirst meeting in Sub-Saharan Africa180 Countries State of preservation of World Heritage Sites Inscribing new sites on the World Heritage listPossible new SA sites-Vrede fort dome in the Free state, Taung in Northwest, Makapan’s valley in Limpopo.

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HERITAGE MONTH 2005

Theme-”celebrating our living heritage”

Sub-Theme-”our indigenous foods, our knowledge and our heritage

To be celebrated in all the provinces

National event in Taung-Northwest Province, 24 September 2005

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THANK YOU