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Mdantsane Arts Center and Library
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Sports, Arts Culture

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 EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
 SPEECH BY MEC BALINDLELA
AT THE  OPENING OF THE MDANTSANE ARTS CENTER AND LIBRARY
 ON 28 NOVEMBER 2000



1. INTRODUCTION

Mr Master of Ceremonies,
His Worship, the Mayor of East London,
The officials of government,
 The residents of Mdantsane,
Cultural workers.

This is one of the most significant days for the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, and for the people of Mdantsane.The 
opening of these centres marks a milestone in the process of delivery in respect of Arts, Culture and Library Services. This is concrete 
evidence that the government is serious about keeping its promises. This event proves beyond doubt that the present government has the 
political will to reverse the imbalances created by the previous political system

Mdantsane is one of the townships created by the Apartheid regime as a “dumping” area. Thousands of Blacks were brought to Mdantsane 
through a process of forceful removals, to a place with inadequate institutional facilities. There was a time when Mdantsane residents 
travelled long distances just to buy stamps because there were no Post Offices. Mdantsane, today, has health, education, welfare, and 
justice facilities. It has, however, taken a very long time before arts, culture and library facilities could be made available.

2.LACK OF PHYSICAL FACILITIES

The emergence of the New Government in South Africa in 1994 facilitated an audit of physical facilities in respect of Arts, Culture and 
Libraries.The findings revealed that:

* There is a serious shortage or absence of physical facilities, especially in Black communities.
* Black communities suffer from a gross shortages of suitable rehearsal, performance, exhibition, manufacturing and distribution space.
* Black communities suffer from lack of access to books, study facilities, and audio-visual materials
* Existing arts centres and libraries are poorly resourced with the resultant scaling down of operations due to lack of financial support.
* In the former homelands, there were facilities that have become redundant - administrative buildings that could be converted at minimal 
costs into cultural facilities.

My Department, in partnership with the National Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology and local government, working closely 
with arts organisations, is determined to address the needs for infrastructure, venues and facilities. This can be achieved by building new 
facilities or by upgrading existing buildings.

3.COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

The government believes that development is a people-driven process. It requires a community that participates fully in the projects that 
affect their lives. The RDP document (ANC 1994:5) states that “Development is not about the delivery of goods to a passive citizenry. It is 
about active involvement and growing empowerment.”

This building will not do work for you. It is a facility that will unleash skills long restrained by economic, social and political 
constraints of the past. Community arts and development is about communities having collective ownership and control over all aspects of 
production and expression in the arts.

* Artists, themselves, will make this project a success!
* Artists will make this Community Arts Centre a centre of activities!
* Artists will develop this facility to reach a tourist destination status.
* Artists will bring community respect for this centre
* Artists will protect this centre.

4. CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE

My Department recognised the fact that without co-operation and partnership with the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology 
and the East London Municipality, we would not be here today. It is clear that we share a common vision - a vision of a society that 
collectively shapes its own destiny.

The Department of Sport, Recreation Arts and Culture recognises the importance of co-operative governance between the national the 
provincial and the local levels of government.

My Department furthermore recognises that delivery takes place where the people are, at Local Government level. It therefore supports the 
Integrated Development Plan advocated by the Local Governments.

We look forward to a stronger relationship between our Provincial Department and the National Department of Arts, Culture, Science and 
Technology. We also look forward to a time when all local government shall:

* create a portfolio for arts and culture in their Council
* establish a cultural desk
* include arts and culture in their annual budgets
* formulate arts and culture policy that reflects the aspirations of the communities.

Our Department will continue to facilitate and support this process.

5.CONCLUSION

The development of this Arts Centre and Library is a crucial and highly visible form of delivery , which illustrates government’ commitment 
to redress past imbalances. However, without the co-operation and participation of the community of Mdantsane, these facilities will become 
“white elephants”.

We therefore make a clarion call to the community of Mdantsane and the youth in particular, to make a maximum use of these facilities, 
which are intended to address their needs.We appeal to the youth to channel their substantial energies into constructive forms of learning 
and recreation, and avoid involving themselves in activities that result in delinquency and the spread of the HIV/AIDS disease.

Master of Ceremonies, Ladies and Gentlemen, these are the fruits of the new democratic, non-racial and non-sexist social order. I therefore 
invite you to exercise your democratic right once more and vote on the 5th of December 2000.

I thank you!

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