Conference Redefines Western Cape Heritage

The constitution of the Republic of South Africa came under scrutiny during group discussions at the Heritage Consultative Conference held at the Nelson Mandela Gateway to Robben Island on 13 May 2006.

The traditional representatives of the Khoi and San communities expressed disappointment that the constitution does not protect their identity and heritage. This becomes even more evident in government and private administrative documents where the Khoi-San people are classified as Coloureds. They have called for the revival of the project to identify Khoi and San heritage sites initiated by National Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology five years ago so that the indigenous people are afforded an opportunity to take ownership of their own heritage.

Delegates appealed to government to increase budget allocation to the heritage sector so that its true value and contribution to the economy can be realized. The critical shortage of skilled young heritage practitioners, especially from disadvantaged communities was sharply raised as an impediment to the transformation of the sector. In this regard, government was urged to develop bursary schemes to encourage and financially assist prospective students from designated groups.

The Conference was organized by the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport in conjunction with the National Heritage Council to allow heritage stakeholders and practitioners to make their inputs into a provincial heritage plan.

In his keynote address to the conference earlier, Premier of the Western Cape Province, Ebrahim Rasool, warned the delegates that the plan for developing and preserving heritage should be relevant to the current realities of society and avoid 'freezing in the past'. The CEO of the National Heritage Council, Adv Sonwabile Mancotywa, appealed to the delegates to "assist the province in searching for the uniqueness of the Western Cape heritage that define its people and their culture". He also shared the heritage vision that will unite the nation if consensus is found about "what is South African that makes us South African" he said. The MEC for Cultural Affairs and Sport, Whitey Jacobs, took the challenges as a mandate for his department and said, "the department will ensure that all suggestions raised by the practitioners and communities will be given high priority going forward".

Issued by the National Heritage Council and the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport

For media enquiries:
Mandla Yeki
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or

Danny Goulkan
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The National Heritage Council
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Cell: 072 952 2260