Themba P. WakasheDirector-General

Department of Arts and CulturePresentation on Social Cohesion

PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE

26 MAY 2010

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Purpose

2. Vision of the Department

3. A working definition of Social Cohesion

4. Factors militating against Social Cohesion

5. DAC’s Strategic Interventions and Programmes

6. Conclusion

2

1. PURPOSE

The purpose of the presentation is to brief the Portfolio Committee on DAC’s activities on Social Cohesion

3

2. VISION OF THE DEPARTMENT

To develop and preserve South African culture to ensure Social Cohesion and Nation Building

4

3. A WORKING DEFINITION OF SOCIAL COHESION

Social cohesion refers to those factors that have an impact on the ability of a society to be united for the attainment of a common goal. It is the extent to which members of a society respond collectively in pursuit of these shared goals and how they deal with the political, socio-economic and environmental challenges that are facing them.

5

The following are some of the factors impeding the building of a cohesive

Society:

• Racial, Cultural, Political, Religious, Class, Gender as well as age differences

• In the South African context, these are exacerbated by our divided past fraught with social and economic inequities

• The complex nature of these factors necessitate a collaborative or cluster approach to the attainment of Social Cohesion

• Strategic interventions that are discussed in the following slides are those that are mainly driven by the DAC

6

4. FACTORS MILITATING AGAINST SOCIAL COHESION

5. DAC’s STRATEGIC INTERVENTIONS AND PROGRAMMES

5.1. Social Cohesion Colloquium

The colloquium was organised to start the national dialogue on social cohesion.

It was successfully held in October 2009 as a build up towards the national Social

Cohesion conference to be held in 2010.

Some of the recommendations that emerged from the colloquium are as follows:

• Mobilisation campaigns to be rolled-out in all the provinces• Promotion of social cohesion to be integrated in the work of all government

departments

7

5. DAC’s STRATEGIC INTERVENTIONS AND PROGRAMMES

5.1. Social Cohesion Colloquium (Cont …)

• The concept of Ubuntu must be promoted amongst all South African citizens

• All structures of the civil society must be involved in the promotion of Social Cohesion

• More dialogues on issues that are hindering Social Cohesion such as Xenophobia, Racism, Social inequities should be facilitated

• Government should improve its communication channels.

8

5. DAC’s STRATEGIC INTERVENTIONS AND PROGRAMMES

5.2. National Conference on Social Cohesion

• Consultative meetings post the colloquium were held with various NGOs

• Discussions are underway with stakeholders for the preparation of the National Social Cohesion Conference planned to take place in 2010

• The mobilisation campaigns will take place in provinces and will address issues

• of nation building and values

9

5. DAC’s STRATEGIC INTERVENTIONS AND PROGRAMMES

5.3 Popularization of national symbols

5.3 Popularisation of National Symbols

Several outreach projects, workshops, exhibitions and the development ofinformative publications on national symbols to increase levels ofunderstanding and appreciation of national symbols have been undertaken.

These include among others:

• Fly the flag campaign • Flag in every school• Flag in every taxi• Flag in every car• The correct singing of the National Anthem and internalisation of the etiquette thereof

10

5. DAC’s STRATEGIC INTERVENTIONS AND PROGRAMMES

5.4. Commemorations and Celebrations of National Days

• New approach of commemorating and celebrating these has been introduced

• It attempts to bring all communities together

• The idea has been tested during Human Rights Day and Freedom Day where all political parties represented in Parliament were invited to participate

• Participation took the form of giving messages of support

• This could help develop new consciousness amongst the South African Citizens that despite political differences, there are things that unite us.

11

5. DAC’s STRATEGIC INTERVENTIONS AND PROGRAMMES

5.5. Festivals, Theatrical Productions and Exhibitions

• Our festivals reflect cultural diversity by ensuring participation of artist from different cultures (Gcwala Ngamasiko, Grahamstown Festivals)

• Our theatres host productions that represent non-racialism and multicultural beliefs and practices:

- current revitalisation of Windybrow Theatre is an attempt to address the challenges of Xenophobia which are a threat to social cohesion

- Kalushi (Solomon Mahlangu, Rivonia Trial)

• Exhibitions portray rich and diverse histories of our communities

12

5. DAC’s STRATEGIC INTERVENTIONS AND PROGRAMMES

5.6. New Commemorative structures• New museums, memorials and monuments depict history and heritage of

people from different population groups (The Wall of Names at Freedom Park is a case in point)

13

CONCLUSION

• The DAC acknowledges the magnitude of the task of building a cohesive society and a caring nation

• As the DAC implements this programme, it will continue to explore ways of deepening and consolidating social cohesion campaigns

• The DAC will also monitor and evaluate the outcomes

14

ThankThankYouYou