PRESENTATION ON THE IKS BILL TOTHE PORTFOLIO
COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Presented by: DAC
Date: 2016-10-26
INTRODUCTION
• The Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) welcomes the
introduction of the Protection, Promotion, Development and
Management of Indigenous Knowledge Systems Bill.
• The DAC also welcomes the opportunity to make this presentation
before the Honourable Committee.
• The Bill is in line with the provisions made for indigenous
knowledge systems in the 1996 White Paper on Arts, Culture and
Heritage and the National Heritage Resources Act 25 of 1999.
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BACKGROUND
After the first democratic elections, the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and
Technology was established to do the following:
"realise the full potential of arts, culture, science and technology in social and
economic development, nurture creativity and innovation, and promote the
diverse heritage of our nation".
The then DACST therefore supported:
• the arts, culture and heritage, by valuing diversity and promoting economic
activity;
• the linguistic diversity of our country as a resource in empowering all South
Africans fully to participate in their country's social, political and economic life;
• the equitable development and preservation of our experiences, heritage and
symbols.
However, in 2003 the Department split into two, namely Department of Arts and
Culture and the Department of Science and Technology.
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BACKGROUND (CONT.)
The revised mandate of the now DAC became the following:
• (a) Preserving, protecting and promoting artistic, cultural, heritage
and linguistic diversity and legacy of South Africa;
• (b) Leading nation building and societal transformation through
social cohesion;
• (c) Enhancing records management structures and systems and
promoting access to information;
• (d)
Providing leadership to the ACH Sector to accelerate its
transformation.
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BACKGROUND (CONT.)
• The National Indigenous Knowledge Systems Policy came into
being in 2004.
• As a result the National Indigenous Knowledge Systems Office
(NIKSO) was established to help facilitate the coordination of
work done by other sister departments in relation to indigenous
knowledge systems.
• According to the policy, several departments were assigned
particular mandates to deliver on in relation to indigenous
knowledge systems .
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MANDATE OF DAC AS PER THE
POLICY
• The DAC was mandated to lead the transformation of the South
African society from the colonial and apartheid legacies. In
transforming the society the DAC has to do the following:
• (a) Redress the legacies of the past that promoted racial
supremacy, undermine human dignity and rights and inculcate
cultural superiority.
• (b) Affirm South African cultural values in the midst of
globalisation.
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PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES LED BY THE
DAC
•
There are quite a number of initiatives the DAC embarked on in the spirit of
redressing the legacy of previous oppressive regimes and affirming the rights of
indigenous people. They are :
1.
The development of the National Policy on South African Living Heritage. This
national policy framework is an attempt to arrest continuing marginalisation of
living heritage. According to National Policy on South African Living Heritage,
Living Heritage means cultural expressions and practices that form a body of
knowledge and provide for continuity, dynamism, and meaning of social life to
generations of people as individuals, social groups, and communities. Living
heritage allows for identity and a sense of belonging for people as well as an
accumulation of intellectual capital for current and future generations in the
context of mutual respect for human, social, and cultural rights.
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PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES LED BY THE
DAC
• The Policy is in the process of obtaining Cabinet approval; although
submitted in 2015 additional consultation was advised.
2.
The affirmation of cultural values was further advanced by the
promotion of indigenous foods project. This project was
implemented in selected schools in all the nine (9) Provinces of
South Africa. The schools that were chosen are those that offer
Home Economics as a subject of study. A publication was
produced as result of this project.
3.
The DAC uses the National Heritage Day celebrations to denounce
the legacies of the oppressive regimes for separate development. The
conceptualisation of Heritage Day celebrations usually focuses on the
promotion of South Africa’s tangible and intangible cultural
heritage.
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PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES LED BY THE
DAC
4.
The DAC also focused on the identification and documentation of
South Africa’s Living Human Treasures. The project recognises
people who have rare knowledge and skills and who are making a
difference in the preservation and transmission of our indigenous
knowledge. The project was influenced by the 2003 UNESCO
Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage which
advocates for the transfer of knowledge from generations to
generations. The process of identifying and recognising the
knowledge and skills held by the living human treasures in essence
becomes an effective way of safeguarding and preserving the
intangible cultural heritage.
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PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES LED BY THE
DAC
5.
The Living Legend Legacy Project focuses on creating a platform
wherein the Living Legends can interact with the
youth and
impart knowledge. The Living Legends Legacy Project also
protect and preserve the work of the legends.
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The DAC also spearheaded the transformation of the
geographical landscapes by appropriating the indigenous
names of places. This is done through the provincial and local
government structures in consultation with the members of the
communities.
7.
The Bureau of Heraldry is busy with the indigenisation of the Coat
of Arms of the municipalities as a process of redressing the
legacy of the past and affirming the African identity.
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PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES LED BY THE
DAC
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Furthermore, the affirmation of cultural values happened through
the funding of community projects that are of significance as far as
the protection, preservation and promotion of South Africa’s living
heritage is concerned. These includes the Zindala Zombili African
Music and Dance festival and the African Primary Institute
project among others.
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EXPENDITURE 2015-2019
2015/16
2016/17
2017/18
2018/19
2019/20
SA Geo
Names
4 487 000
4 420 000
4 891 000
5 175 000
5 465 000
National
Days
20 211 000
21 231 000
22 293 000
23 586 000
24 907 000
1 553 000
7 267 000
5 856 000
6 190 000
Living
6 072 000
HeritageOperational
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THANK YOU
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