inkanyiso.org

Text by Phindile Madlala

Photos by Lindeka Qampi

TOPIC: Vote Me – Arts Seminars

VENUE: K- CAP Kwa-Mashu

DATE: 08/03/2019

TIME: 2:00 pm

• This dialogue was aimed at developing viable structures within the Arts industry in different municipalities, government departments at national, provincial and local level – with the aim of finding solutions to combat chronically high unemployment affecting the country.
• Representatives from different political parties, as listed below, were invited to address artists on how best can they could resolve challenges faced by various artists within the arts, culture and heritage sector.

Bongani Mavuso, the Khozi FM presenter, was the moderator.

Brian Mhlongo, a political analyst was also in attendance.

The panel was given the following questions to respond to;

• Why should the Arts community vote for your political party?
• Is the Arts budget undermined?
• How will your party prioritize the Arts and Heritage Sector towards addressing the country’s triple challenges?

Parties’ Responses:

IFP – Acknowledged that domestic artists weren’t being fairly recognized as compared to their international counterparts.

EFF–  Spoke of how local artists were being exploited by giving an example of say a white woman comes, haggles for a low price from the vendors, buys their works and exports the product to resell at high costs.

• They felt the government needed to assist the crafts sector when it comes to packaging, marketing and pricing of their products in order to bridge the gap of exploitation.
• Another contrast made was that of artists dying with nothing but recognition because they are underpaid and heavily exploited.  An example given was that of Ray Phiri vs Paul Simon. Mahlathini was another legend who died with nothing.
• They stated that the government didn’t show any interest when it came to local artists.
• There had to be plans in place for government to ensure that local artists are skilled and educated.

ANC– The ruling party defended its stance by saying the Arts sector wasn’t underimined, at the same time conceding that it received a minimal budge

• They stated that they gave priority to programmes that tended to affect society as a whole

• That they prioritized and offered a fair budget to important sectors that cover water, sanitation, infrastructure etc.
• They denied that as the ruling party, they didn’t take notice of the artists as they have assisted in the burial of several local artists when their families failed to do so.
• They pointed out that there was a policy that was adopted in September 2018, which outlines how the government pays local artists;  how an artist can go about cutting out the middlemen when it comes to markets and exports, etc
• As a party, they believed in the standardized rate that would be agreed upon artists and employers.
• They also said as a party, they had allocated grant in aid funds to assist in the development of art structures.

DA- They felt  that there was no bidding conducted when it came to international artists payments.

• It seemed to them that international artists were the ones calling the shots by stipulating what their payments would be, while government did not offer any resistance.
•  DA as a party did not agree to bringing in international artists and paying them fare shares.
• They noted that the ruling party had no shame in saying that they bury local artists when they are dead because they undermined them while still alive, by not paying them accordingly.
• Their vision for the arts sector was stated as;

– Investing in Arts regardless of age, gender and race

– Constructing more arts hubs/centres

– Skill development

• They closed by sloganeering: One South Africa for All.

PRM– Stated that they believe in being in direct consultation with artists

• They plan on building amphitheatres
• They would ensure that the most vulnerable – black artists – are are not exploited
• They would ensure that credit, recognition and payment is given where it’s due and gave an example of design work design of the Moses Mabhida Stadium being stolen from a black person as well as the Vodacom please call me campaign.

BLF – pledged that they would draft a new constitution and policies

• They felt that the there was neither representation nor diversity at art centres because they were under predominantly white management. Changing that would allow more voices to be heard and seen.

The political analyst felt that the arts sector wasn’t being taken seriously as it was underfunded and undermined.  He noted that the budget allocation happened once or twice a year when there were certain events, as opposed to there being a set budget to cover all events.  Sadly the arts industry didn’t seem to be a priority at the moment, he noted.

  Artists also got an opportunity to make their grievances known;

• They pointed out that officials within the Arts and Culture ministry and local municipalities didn’t seem to hold the pertinent qualifications for their jobs thus they lack fundamental knowledge which leads to  lack of interest and inadequate rendering of services.
• They noted that festivals got a big chunk of the funding and only a few artists were selected and benefiting .
• They felt that the budget should take into consideration other areas such as capacity building as opposed to just funnelling money to festivals
• It was noted that municipalities took longer in drafting policies affecting or shaping the arts sector
• Local government needed to be visible and interact with local artists and assist in the drafting of policies

Political parties gave closing remarks as follows;

ACDP– pledged to consult with respective artists within their respective spheres

IFP– noted that artists need to be supported by the Government in uplifting them by ensuring that they deploy MECs with relevant qualifications and skills in respective government departments

EFF– pledged to ensure that they create a directorate within the Arts and Culture ministry, that will directly engage with the artists

• They would also ensure procurement personnel within the Arts Department have the qualification and skill to directly engage artists.
• They pledged to safeguard against exploitation of the artist saying ‘nothing about the artists without the artists’

ANC– The ruling party didn’t feel that the MEC had to be qualified/have know how about a particular department because there are Heads of Department  (HOD) who are required to perform those duties.  They gave an example of MEC Bheki Cele not being necessarily a policeman but performing outstandingly.

• They reminded those in attendance that the ruling party had done so much in the arts industry as they had funded arts centres and local films such as Uzalo

DA – stated that they would require that both MEC and HOD hold relevant qualifications for the Departments they are leading, so that they know what they are doing.

PRM– called for unity amongst artists so that they spoke with one voice.  They called for every mall to have a dedicated area for arts and culture

• Encouraged artists to know their worth and their shares from Google

EFF– Urged government to ensure that all artists get free equipment, by way of a once off grant.

By Lindiwe Dhlamini

As South Africa commemorates Human Rights Day on 21 March 2019, many people are happy it is a long weekend for them. For us Inkanyiso crew we had to be in different parts of the country and document the events that are taking place. Since the end of last year our team has been doing an education themed Photography Xperience (Photo XP) with young people in Primary schools. 2019 marks 25 years of Democracy in South Africa our founder Honorary Professor/Sir Zanele Muholi continues with their vision of educating Black children through photography. As part of that, they deployed us to different locations in South Africa to teach, share knowledge and skills and to exist in spaces foreign to us.

As a Johannesburg native, I had the pleasure of visiting a rural area for the first time in my life. I, Terra Dick and Mancane Selepe drove 13 hours in extremely bad weather conditions and potholes to attend to a collaboration between Inkanyiso.Org and Bavulele Ntsikhwe Mbokazi Arts Centre which operates from Kuyasa Primary School in Ngqwara village, Eastern Cape. Bavulele is an organisation founded by Charmain Carrol in 2013 but was registered in 2018 as a way to assist the local school where she resides. Charmain thought it would be a great idea for the learners she teaches to have exposure to other artists in the creative arts scene.

Mancane specialises in dance and has been teaching the learners dance from 21 March 2019 when the holiday program started; this dance routine will be performed on the last day of the holiday program 25 March 2019. Terra is a Filmmaker and Photographer and is responsible for photography classes with the learners. I write mostly, so I was responsible for teaching writing until, we were confronted with a bullying situation during the first day and had to sneak with my other skill which is teaching learners about the dangers of bullying. Lynne Carrol is also an artist and joined us to assist with teaching fine art (drawing) giving the learners an all rounded creative arts program Xperience.

In other parts of the world, we have Lebo Mashifane and Pam Dlungwana who journeyed to Mexico, South America to attend a screening of Difficult Love a film by Muholi and Peter Goldberg. The film highlights the harsh realities of Black lesbians in South Africa in the age of rampant homophobia. The film was screened in Cineteca National Festival in Mexico coordinated by Liesl Theron who has been our liaising person with the South African Embassy and the Festival. Back here in South Africa, we have Lindeka Qampi, Lizzy Ziqubu, Phindile Madlala and Wendy Khumalo are currently covering multiple events in Durban, KwaZulu Natal. Wendy and Phindile are covering Phindile’s mothers’ unveiling ceremony. While Lindeka and Lizzy are covering Photo XP juniors in KZN, Bat Centre documenting a meeting by Izindlovukazi and other events in KwaMashu.

Photo by Liesl Theron

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Back home in Johannesburg, Velile Majola who is currently observing the Yithi Laba exhibition is working with Naomi Maqhama a current beneficiary of Muholi who is studying photography Foundation Course at Market Photo Workshop. Naomi and Velile were tasked with attending the Human Rights Festival that was taking place at the Constitution Hill where famous artists were due to perform. The last crew members were attending an Art symposium in Bloemfontein where Muholi was in the panel. Thobeka Bhengu, Lerato Dumse, Akhona Hailele and Bajabulile Dhlamini went with Muholi to Free State, Bloemfontein. The team was documenting the symposium which was followed by LGBTI+ pride on the 23^rd March 2019. As an organisation that archives content, we ensured that Human Rights Day was well documented.

As we are all about to journey back home, we are happy to have had the chance to be part of archiving our history.

Her dark skin glows
Her light skin glows
African women are blessed with different skin tones yet they are all African.
African women come in all different kinds of size, shape, sexuality, yet remain beautifully African.
African women carry the heavy baggage on her head and walks with pride, providing for her family.
Her heart weeps yet she dances to the rhythm of the Drumbeat.
African women you are beautiful with your curves or no curves.
You are beautiful regardless of your profession or social status.
African women you were created to build a strong African nation.
A nation that carries beauty, love, unity, power and victory.
African women you are beautiful, keep your head up high and conquer.

@Aluncedo Cetywayo

It is a Monday morning around 6am, my partner and I are taking our morning walk around Hillbrow and Braamfontein. I was very disturbed by seeing a lot of homeless people that filled the side ways of inner city like trash. This has been a disturbance to me in Durban as well. Where you have Mahatma Gandhi Road pavements turned into full bedrooms every evening.

The cement flooring is not ideal for anyone to sleep on, let alone without blankets and the open air breeze that is not bearable to one sleeping in a covered shelter, on the comfort of their own homes. This is very disturbing to see so many homeless people while approaching twenty-five years of freedom.

Political parties are consumed with canvasing for the elections and busy dissing each other. Priding themselves in outlining what the opposition have not done, highlighting empty promises of the other without having a solid plan themselves on how to fix and fill the gaps. The real people on the ground are suffering having come this far as a country, It is very disturbing to be having such a huge number of homelessness and the government that is not even touching on that direction when outlining the plans of the future and deliverables.

There is always a plan for building RDP houses and every political party pride themselves in achieving those deliverables and yet not even one has a plan on how to manage them and ensuring that the desired goals are achieved to max. To date the more RDP houses being built, the more shacks pop up, which almost defeats the purpose. Due to lack of proper vision, management and planning, but rather the focus is on how many houses are built by one party to the other.

What remedy is in place for the destitute who fill the pavements, sideways and bridges of South Africa as this is not just a problem for Johannesburg and Durban but greater South Africa. Are they less citizens of South Africa or simply left out because they are likely not to be in possession of an identity document? Therefore are of no use to political parties because they are not eligible to vote.

DOES SOUTH AFRICA BELONG TO ALL OR ONLY RESERVED FOR SOME…

© BVL @GAUTENG
18.03.2019

by Lebo Mashifane

We are going to represent Muholi’s film screening of Difficult Love. Liesl Theron is expecting me and Pam Dlungwana in Mexico.

It’s Tuesday the 19th of March 2019, I am traveling to Mexico with Pam Dlungwana. This morning, when I woke up I checked messages from Liesl, she had managed to book new tickets and she was talking about how one day we could hopefully laugh about it. I didn’t understand until I checked the new flight ticket. Initially we were supposed to have traveled on the 18th but due to some misunderstandings our date changed to the following day – the new route freaked me out. The initial ticket route was much better, we were going to fly to JFK airport in USA then catch a connecting flight to Mexico after 3 hours. The new route was a total of 32 hours long and 3 different flights. I was a bit anxious and deducing from an article that Pam is also someone with travel anxiety got to my mind. Thanks to a cup of coffee, it made me gear up and take on responsibility of what needs to be done. 

Photo by Liesl Theron

I met up with Pam at the airport – found her at the self service ticket machine and she seemed very calm. We got our tickets quick quick, we were done. I told her that I had to go fetch my luggage at the luggage storage at OR Tambo Airport and she was keen on coming with me. She is very mellow and together, I have never travelled with her but I guess her calmness was both pleasant and surprising as to how can we be so orientated as people who have travel anxiety. I guess we are healing and the thought of going with someone who is also not a stranger is helping. 

I had left my luggage the previous day when I flew from Durban to Jozi where I thought in a few hours I would return to be on route to Mexico. There is a luggage storage at the airport called A-teck they charge R70 per bag for 0-5hours of luggage storage and R80 for 5-12hours. When I got my luggage we packed the shopping list that Liesl had asked us to get, bottles of wine for the guests that will be at the screening and Mrs Balls chutney and Black Cat sugar free peanut butter for her. Ya ne, the things we take for granted for being in this lovely Afrika. 

When we got to check in desk they asked us for yellow cards and that we need vaccines – we didn’t know about this so they sent us to the airport clinic where we paid R800 per person for the vaccine. Thank goodness the clinic was empty so we spent about 15 minutes at the clinic and we were back on mission check-in. Everything went smooth then we went to chill at a restaurant for an hour before boarding time. It was lovely spending time with Pam and getting to know each other and our mental gifts. 

In the plane we sat on different seats, destined to Sao Paulo where we will connect to Lima then to our final destination, Mexico. I am amazed by the journey, it just never got dark outside. We left South Africa at 1:30pm to reach Sao Paulo in 11 hours time, Sao Paulo is 5 hours behind South African time. At some point I looked at the plane map on the screen – it’s scary we are moving at a speed of 890 km/h and realising that I am out of Afrika – I have left my home, the shape of the continent is still as lovely.