Housing audit needed to address access, accountability
by Ismail Obaray, MPL – DA Member in the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature
Date: 31 August 2017
Release: Immediate
Type: Speech
Note to editors: The following speech was delivered today by Democratic Alliance Member in the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature, Ismail Obaray, during the Heritage Month debate held in Victoria West.
The annual commemoration of Heritage Day is perhaps one of the most joyful public holidays that we celebrate. Whether it is through song or dance, rituals or festivals, stories or social practices, Heritage Day provides us with an opportunity to celebrate and embrace our diversity.
Indeed, the Democratic Alliance believes that diversity and the celebration of different cultures, languages and communities has become a defining characteristic of post-apartheid South Africa. As a country, we have emerged from our political transition into a democracy as groups divided by history, but united by the vision that we have for our beloved country. Our vision is of people who will honour their past whilst taking positive steps to build a shared future.
The celebrations of Heritage Day give us the chance to build a foundation of mutual respect, trust and understanding between people from different walks of life.
And just look at how much heritage and history we have to celebrate here in the Northern Cape! Our province offers a vast cultural richness ranging from the ancient rock art preserved here in the Karoo to the lively riel dances of Namakwa.
Of the nine World Heritage Sites in the country, two are now located in our province. In July this year, UNESCO declared the Khomani Cultural Landscape a World Heritage Site. The landscape covers approximately 9600 square kilometres in the Dawid Kruiper Local Municipality, includes the entire Kalahari Gemsbok National Park and parts of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and will serve as a valuable asset in the preservation of the Khomani culture.
Aangesien ons vandag in Victoria Wes is, Agbare Speaker, is dit ook net gepas om te verwys na ‘n stukkie filmgeskiedenis wat vanjaar hier plaasgevind het. Die inwoners van Victoria Wes sal onthou van die vertoning van die spanningsfliek, Jagveld, wat ook gedeeltelik in Loxton se omgewing verfilm is. As deel van die fliek se bemarkingstoer is Jagveld hier in die Apollo filmteater bekendgestel voordat dit landwyd in teaters te siene was.
Die Apollo filmteater, een van die laaste Art Deco filmteaters in die Suidelike Halfrond, is opsigself ‘n kosbare deel van Victoria Wes se kultuurerfenis. Voordat Jagveld vertoon is, is die teater opgeknap en dit is werklik verblydend om vandag te gaan kyk hoe mooi dit lyk. Wat dit veral merkwaardig maak, is dat die opknapping moontlik gemaak is deur die toewyding van gemeenskapslede wat saamgewerk het om hierdie kultuurerfenis vir die samelewing te bewaar.
Dit is juis deur die gesamentlike pogings van gemeenskappe, burgerlike organisasies, besighede en regerings dat ons werklik ons erfenis as Noord-Kapenaars kan vier.
Hopelik dien die sukses van Jagveld ook as ‘n dryfveer vir die moontlike herlewing van die Apollo filmfees. Laat dit vir ons ‘n voorbeeld wees van wat ons gesamentlik kan vermag en dit gebruik as aansporing vir verdere ontwikkeling van kultuur in die streek.
Wie weet, dalk maak die volgende Trevor Noah of Charlize Theron nog hul eerste buigings hier op die Apollo teater se planke?
When we celebrate Heritage Day, Honourable Speaker, we remind ourselves that the artistic and linguistic expression of our cultural diversity has inherent, intrinsic worth and value. Through the celebration of our cultural diversity, we also create platforms for communities to participate meaningfully in local economies. The arts and culture industry can be a major contributor to our economy, with cultural tourism already established as a niche in the tourism industry.
The rich cultural resources of the Northern Cape can and does provide abundant tourism opportunities. We can harness this potential as part of our broader pursuit for economic growth, job creation and poverty alleviation.
For at the end of the day, no matter the language we speak or the dances we perform, we all share the vision of building on our past for a shared future.
Media Enquiries
Ismail Obaray, MPL
DA Member in the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature
082 380 2128
Tharina Whittaker
Researcher
071 251 5558
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