Get in touch
555-555-5555
mymail@mailservice.com
Media verklaring - 19 Mei 2022
Terug na media
Mthethwa se lugkastele, pypdrome en strooihalms - Afrikaanse taalmonument
Verklaring deur Jan Bosman
Hoofsekretaris van die Afrikanerbond
Mthethwa se politieke lugkastele, pypdrome en strooihalms (Standbeeld temaparke en 'n vlagpaal)
Minister van Kuns, Kultuur en Sport Nathi Mthethwa is ʼn hoogs verdelende figuur op die Suid-Afrikaanse politieke landskap. As hy nie besig is met dorpe se naamsveranderinge nie droom hy van temaparke vir apartheid en koloniale standbeelde, en 'n vlagpaal wat toeriste attraksies moet word van 120 meter teen ʼn koste van R22 miljoen. Dit alles in die naam van sosiale kohesie.
Sy afwesigheid met enige sukses in sy portefeulje en vrae oor sy prestasies die laaste jare veral vanuit kunstenaars geledere wat finansieel noustrop trek en sportfederasies wat onder sy politieke leiding en inmenging van een verleentheid na die ander struikel, laat hom na strooihalms gryp. Die mees onlangse strooihalm is die absurde opdrag dat die Afrikaanse Taalmonument se naam moet verander.
Minister Nathi Nthethwa se swaar gekleurde ideologiese bril het al na vore gekom toe hy Sondag 19 Maart 2017 in gesprek met joernaliste tydens die bekendstelling van die ANC se beleidsdokumente onder meer gesê het “Wit Suid-Afrikaners het nie volledig hul kant gebring vir versoening in die demokratiese bestel ná 1994 nie.” Op 6 April 2019 beskuldig hy ook vir Jan Van Riebeeck in die dood van struggle leiers. Dit is die agtergrond van sy opdragte en sy toepassing van sosiale kohesie. Straf en beskuldig die wittes in die naam van sosiale kohesie.
Dit is veral duidelik dat die Minister van Kuns, Kultuur en Sport geen snars verstaan van kuns, kultuur of sport nie en net nog ʼn kader is vir wie plek op die soustrein gekry moes word. Veral is dit duidelik dat die minister soos ʼn bul in ʼn porseleinwinkel omgaan met taal en kultuur erfenisse wat ‘n emosionele kwessie is waarmee versigtig en omsigtig omgegaan moet word. Alles in die naam van sosiale kohesie.
Die Afrikaanse Taalmonument is gedurende die sestiger en sewentiger jare van die vorige eeu deur hoofsaaklik Afrikaanse kapitaal, denke, tyd en energie opgerig. Dit het ongeveer R 760 000 gekos waarvan ongeveer R 300 000 deur die Staat bygedra is. Die balans is deur Afrikaanse burgerlike organisasies en individue bygedra. Vandag is die monument ʼn inklusiewe Monument en gee op simboliese wyse erkenning vir die bydrae van Europese, Indonesiese en Afrika tale tot die ontwikkeling van Afrikaans. Daarom word Afrikaans gesien as ʼn brug tussen die tale wat ook simbolies uitgebeeld word. (Lees hier) Die “opdrag of dekreet” van die minister bevestig opnuut dat daar geen begrip of respek in regeringsgeledere vir die Suid-Afrikaanse - en dan in die verband - spesifiek vir die Afrikaanse taalgemeenskap is nie.
Suid-Afrika skiet ernstig tekort aan pragmatisme en realiteit in die haas angstige poging om ʼn ideologiese sosiale kohesie op Suid-Afrikaners af te dwing. Dit is duidelik dat ons totaal uiteenlopende sieninge het oor sosiale kohesie. Ons sien dit as respek en begrip vir mekaar, bevordering van die diversiteit van Suid-Afrika en die bou van verhoudinge waaruit ʼn nuwe Suid-Afrikaanse ideaal kan ontwikkel. Minister Nthethwa se siening is een van uitgediende ideologiese dwang tot kunsmatige eenheid ongeag die gevolge.
Afrika-dag word op 25 Mei 2022 gevier. Dit is daarom ironies dat die Afrikaanse Taalmuseum en -monument se Raad ʼn paar dae later (26-27 Mei 2022) in Paarl moet ontmoet en dat Afrikaanse rolspelers op 28 Mei 2022 moet veg om die behoud van die naam van ʼn monument en museum vir ʼn taal wat homself na die einste kontinent genoem het. Kan een minister werklik so uit voeling wees met ʼn taalgemeenskap?
19 Mei 2022
_____________________________________________________
Media statement by Jan Bosman
Chief Secretary of the Afrikanerbond
Mthethwa’s political castles in the air, pipe dreams and grasping at straws (Statue them parks and a flag pole)
Minister of Arts, Culture and Sport Nathi Mthethwa is a highly divisive figure in the South African political landscape. If he is not busy changing the names of towns, he dreams of theme parks for apartheid and colonial statues, and 120-metre flags that should become tourist attractions at a cost of R22 million. All this in the name of social cohesion.
The absence of any success in his portfolio, and questions about his achievements in recent years, especially from the ranks of financially struggling artists and sports federations that, under his political leadership and interference, stumble from one embarrassment to the next, have him grasping at straws. The most recent is the absurd instruction that the Afrikaans Language Monument must change its name.
Minister Nathi Nthethwa's heavily ideological view was already evident in a conversation with journalists on Sunday 19 March 2017 during the launch of the ANC's policy documents, when he said, amongst other things: “White South Africans have not fully done their part for reconciliation in the democratic order after 1994." On 16 April 2019, he also blamed Jan Van Riebeeck for the death of struggle leaders. This is the background against which his instructions and his application of social cohesion are to be seen. Punish and accuse white people in the name of social cohesion.
It is especially clear that the Minister of Arts, Culture and Sport has no understanding of art, culture or sport and is simply another cadre for whom a place had to be found on the gravy train. In particular, it is clear that the minister deals with language and cultural heritage - emotional issues that need to be handled with care - like a bull in a china shop. All in the name of social cohesion.
The Afrikaans Language Monument was built during the sixties and seventies of the last century, with mainly Afrikaans capital, input, time and energy. It cost approximately R760 000, of which approximately R300 000 was contributed by the State. The balance was contributed by Afrikaans civic organisations and individuals. Today, the monument is inclusive and symbolically recognises the contribution of European, Indonesian and African languages to the development of Afrikaans. Afrikaans is seen as a bridge between the languages, which are also symbolically depicted (Read more). The "instruction” or “decree" of the Minister reaffirms that there is no understanding or respect within government ranks for the South African - and in this regard specifically for the Afrikaans - language community.
In the almost frantic attempt to impose ideological social cohesion on South Africans, pragmatism and reality are lacking. It is clear that we have totally different views on social cohesion. We see it as respect for and understanding of one another, promoting the diversity of South Africa and building relationships from which a new South African ideal can develop. Minister Nthethwa's view is one of an outdated ideological compulsion to force artificial unity, regardless of the consequences.
Africa Day is celebrated on 25 May 2022. It is ironic that the Council of the Afrikaans Language Museum and Monument must meet a few days later (26–27 May) in Paarl and that Afrikaans role players must fight on 28 May to preserve the name of a monument and museum for a language named after the very continent. Can one minister be so out of touch with a language community?
19 May 2022
