Recovery efforts for sport, creative sectors

• Published date: 12 May 2022
• Publication title: South African Official News

As the country emerges slowly from the COVID-19 pandemic, government is moving from grants and relief mode to a sustainable economic recovery trajectory, says Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa.

Delivering his Budget Vote to Parliament on Thursday, Mthethwa said government will deploy resources for the recovery of the sport and creative economy, as it was the hardest hit by the pandemic.

'This will be done primarily through the implementation of the Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) strategy in order to recalibrate the sport and creative economy for the benefit of our athletes and artists,' Mthethwa said.

As a strategy aimed at repositioning the cultural industries in the country, the MGE strategy opens up the arts, culture and heritage sector to effectively and comprehensively contribute to economic growth and job creation.

Future milestones include working towards the urgent need for a strengthened Cultural Diplomacy Framework, and a strengthened touring circuits programme, in collaboration with the Department of Tourism and international relations in the Africa region.

The work will also include practical African Union (AU) collaboration in sports and culture reporting entities, and the amalgamation of the reporting entities from 30 to five boards and councils in the country for nation building and social cohesion.

'There is a dire need to have a worldwide African based digital platform that houses all online creative arts and sporting platforms for control and sustainability of intellectual property and patents of South Africa and the AU member States' intangible heritage,' the Minister said.

Since 2011, the MGE has supported more than 30 000 creatives across the spectrum to pursue their craft.

Youth development

The department has supported several youth programmes to mitigate against the youth unemployment rate.

This includes the Debut Fund programme, The Young Patriots programme, and Artists in Schools and Film.

'The latter programme on film involves highly creative activities wherein a task is given to youth to produce 10 short documentaries of unsung African heroes and heroines.

'This culminated in the production of an anthology titled 'Not all heroes wear capes. These documentaries will be showcased during Heritage Month in the current financial year,' the Minister said.

The department financially supports language practitioners, especially those who study indigenous languages.

'On an annual basis, we support on average 400 students to study across...