Former Ministers Speeches

Today is an extra-ordinary chapter of the Van Toeka Af series of recognising living legends in the arts and culture sector. We are gathered here today, to recognise and pay tribute to a remarkable individual who has left an indelible mark on our cultural landscape, an icon whose contributions have enriched our lives and touched our hearts. It is not just a random day, but it is his birthday too!! I am therefore very honoured to be amongst his family and friends celebrating this huge milestone with him.

Today, we gather not only to celebrate the launch of a professional domestic women's cricket league but to reflect on the remarkable journey that has led us to this transformative moment. As we applaud Cricket South Africa's tireless efforts, let us also recognize the strides we've taken and the path we are paving for the future of women's cricket in our great nation.

Over the past month, South Africa has been on a glorious wave, celebrating triumphs in women’s sport. It is no coincidence that Women’s Month has come with some historic feats in women sports in the country.

Your presence and support is greatly appreciated as we embark on this journey to empower and uplift the young creatives of our nation. We are delighted as a Department, to unveil this exciting initiative that is designed to foster and support the talents of young individuals in the field of arts and culture, providing them with a platform to showcase their creativity

Fellow South Africans, the Democratic State is charged with the responsibility to discover, develop and encourage national talent for the enhancement of our sport and cultural life. Conditions must be created for access to sporting and cultural treasures of humanity.

I extend my warmest greetings to all of you fellow South Africans. We are gathered here today to mark the official commencement of Freedom Month, a month in which we celebrate the journey we have travelled together as a nation from that important foothold that 1994 provided us with.

Your Excellency, Madam SUN Chunlan, on behalf of the government and the people of South Africa, it gives me immense pleasure to welcome you and your delegation to this, our beautiful country, South Africa.

I would like to thank you on behalf of the government of the people of South Africa for your participation at this meeting.  Allow me to express gratitude to all the delegation present here today, for carrying out the noble mandate to ensure a vibrant and meaningful engagement in ensuring critical decisions in the People-to-People Exchange Mechanism (PPEM) meeting we have had today.

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, in partnership with Mediamark, Diageo, Heineken and The Artscape, deemed it necessary to accept the GCIS’s offer for us to make use of this platform to take advantage of the presence of local and international sportspersons, who have been invited to the SONA, to share the key elements of our calendar of major sports events, taking place, this year.

We will soon be at the end of what has for many been a difficult year. In our communities, at our places of work and study, and in our homes, South Africans have had to confront many challenges.