GCIS PARLIAMENTARY MEDIA BRIEFING
MINISTRY OF ARTS, CULTURE, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
18 September 2001

Document Handed Out:
Minister’s Media Briefing September 18, 2001 [See Appendix below]

Questions by media and reply by Minister, Dr Ben Ngubane

(Q) The appointment of Pan South African Language Board has been going on since April. Has the issue been a misinterpretation of the law?
(A) The law has not been misinterpreted, because the number of people required to comprise the board is clear and such requirement has been observed. The dispute is a procedural error. It was discovered that there are irregularities in selection of board members, that some of languages are not represented on the board. This is a grave irregularity and consequently the Cabinet does not accept this board. The portfolio committee must correct this procedural error. Be that as it may, the board is fully operational. It is fully empowered to deal with the duties of a board. The process of rectifying this irregularity has been a very long one, but is now drawing to its conclusion.

(Q) You have placed emphasis on the importance of nation building. What do say about the political parties that hijack these programmes and make them their own, you may find more than one rally being held in each province by these various political parties?
(A) From your question I gather that political parties are not sufficiently conscientised to the notion of one nation. Regional interest in anything you do can never be excluded. The official national event is the one that is presided over by the President and Provincial ones are those presided over by the premiers and in none of these events do these officials further their political ends. We are still trying to engage the political parties and members of the community in general to see the importance of celebrating the days of national importance together. In doing that we are mindful of the fact that the society is still in transition and has not yet normalised. Once society normalises we will not have these prolific gatherings.

(Q) How far is your Department with a programme of popularising national symbols and integrating the department of education’s plan for all public schools to have National Flags?
(A) We have taken this proposal very seriously and are looking at how we can ensure that we provide schools with no flag post with a flag post and flags. We are also taking this further by trying to promote the singing of the national anthem in assemblies of all public schools and community gatherings. We are in a process of supplying cassettes with the correct version of the national anthem. We are also in the process of developing a booklet explaining the symbolic features of National Flag and National Coat of Arms, in all languages.

(Q) Will government intervene in problems encumbering the medicinal plants of the San?
(A) The intellectual property rights of this plant are held in South Africa, by CSIR. There is a commitment to ensure that the indigenous people will get some benefits in the commercialisation of this plant.

Appendix:
GCIS PARLIAMENTARY MEDIA BRIEFING
MINISTRY OF ARTS, CULTURE, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

18 September 2001

(The original PowerPoint presentation is available at http://www.gov.za/speeches/briefings01/ngubane.ppt)

HERITAGE DAY - 24 September 2001

* Popular national holiday - celebrates culture and heritage.
* Changing themes reflect national priorities.
* 2001 - "Celebrating National Symbols"
* Aim:
- Familiarising South Africans with national symbols; and
- Developing pride for symbols.
* Symbols build national unity.
* Familiarising South Africans with symbols will encourage respect and ownership.

New way to celebrate:

* Preceded by education and publicity campaign
* Followed by development of guidelines around use of national symbols
* Main event on 24 September: Street parade in Tshwane/Pretoria

THE MUSIC INDUSTRY TASK TEAM (MITT)

* Previous policy interventions to transform arts and culture:

- White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage (1996);
- Cultural industries Growth Strategy (1998); and
- Cabinet's Economic and Employment Cluster Lekgotla (2001).

* Specific forum needed for problems in SA music industry
* MITT established in 2000 - local and international experts
* Brief:

- Investigation of industry; and
- Recommendations to government.

Recommendations included:

* Social benefit schemes for artists;
* Legislative amendments to Copyright and Labour Relations Acts;
* Establishment of Music Export Council;
* Raising of Local Content Quotas;
* Mechanisms to combat music piracy; and
* Mechanisms to develop industry as a whole e.g. a music industry development fund.

* Problem issues involved different Departments:

1. Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology;
2. Department of Trade and Industry;
3. Department of Labour;
4. Department of Communications; and
5. Department of Education.

* DACST is working with these Departments to implement recommendations.
* Pilot project with Legal Aid Board: offering legal assistance to musicians.
* Cost: R1-million over next two years.
* Will train a number of lawyers in specifics of music business.

THE BIOTECHNOLOGY STRATEGY

* Differential access to biotechnology latest manifestation of North/South divide.
* Developing countries realise importance of developing own biotechnology industries.
* SA must develop capacity in this area.
* Potential of biotechnology industry for economic growth and development confirmed by National Research and Technology Foresight Study (Launched March 2000).
* Biotechnology influence in various sectors proven.
* SA needs to manage development of biotechnology- minimising risks, maximising positive socio-economic impact.
* National biotechnology strategy being developed.
* Expert panel.
* Major role of HRD in:

- Molecular biology;
- Bio-informatics;
- Information technology;
- Engineering; and
- Business development.

* Biotechnology incubator for 15-20 SMMEs

DEVELOPING SA's RESEARCH CAPACITY

* Development of research capacity amongst black South Africans neglected under previous government.

* NRF mandated to develop research capacity in range of new areas of national priority.

* Progress:

1. 37% of Doctorate and Post Doctorate bursaries (2000/2001) in Natural, Life and Engineering Sciences to black students.
2. 25% increase in uptake of black masters students in 2000/2001.
3. Of 3574 current bursary students, 2066 are black, 1567 are female.
4. R19 million granted to 54 research teams at Historically Black Universities.
5. 45 % capital allocation to equipment (R800 000) disbursed to Historically Disadvantaged Institutions.
6. 28% growth in number of scholarships granted by Social Science and Humanities Division of NRF.
7. This translates into 65% of the total number of scholarships to black students.

TRANSFORMING THE SCIENCE COUNCILS

* Number of black senior managers in Science Councils increased from 4% in 1994 to 28% in 2000.

* Ministry and Department will continue to work towards transformation of all associated institutions.