Date: 19/05/2005
Source:Department Of Sport, Arts & Culture
Title: Molusi: Freedom Park Trust photographic exhibition
Department of Sport, Arts and Culture MEC KD Molusi delivers keynote address at Freedom Park Trust photographic exhibition, Duggan-Cronin Gallery
Member of the Provincial Legislature, Mr Galela
Head of the Department, Mr Esau
Mr Sipho Mdanda of the Freedom Park Trust
Distinguished guests
Learners
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen
In the year that we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Charter in this country, it pleases me that we are undertaking to display our culture and customs in ways such as these.
After all, the Freedom Charter had made a commitment that “all the cultural treasures of mankind shall be open to all”!
The Freedom Park Trust photographic exhibition here today, exists as a result of work done, culturally and spiritually.
These photographic images are significant because they will always serve to remind us of our culture and heritage as people belonging to South Africa.
But most importantly, these photographs are the eyes into a history of the people of the Northern Cape, and South Africa, as reflected in the process of cleansing and healing, from an undeniably painful past.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we are here this morning to become witnesses to this colourful photographic exhibition, which was made possible through the capturing of photographic images during the cleansing and healing ceremonies held throughout the country, including the Northern Cape – a process which brought together a lot of people and created an understanding in the workings of faith-based organisations as ceremonies were conducted in the open.
I am of the opinion that we all identify with the need to have cleansing and healing ceremonies, considering the past we’re from as a nation.
The Freedom Park Trust, had as a mandate to create a national heritage monument of humanity and freedom that acknowledges and remembers the unsung heroes and heroines who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. This led to the Trust co-ordinating the cleansing of pain in efforts to bring about healing of our nation.
Reflecting on the Constitution of our country, it declares in the preamble that we adopted, as a country, to heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights. The -preamble also states that the people of this country recognise the injustices of the past.
Reconciliation takes place through the healing of the divisions of the past, which is brought to realisation, as we have already executed, through these cleansing and healing ceremonies conducted.
President Thabo Mbeki said in a debate on the vote of the Presidency in June 2003, that:
“Fortunately, there are many in our country, both black and white, who understand very well that reconciliation is not just a ‘feel-good concept’, that the finalisation of the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission did not end the need to strive for reconciliation, that reconciliation is not, and cannot be the status quo.”
I wish to add that the Freedom Park, conceptualised partly from recommendations of the TRC, retains the national memory of our past and collectively honours those who fought and sacrificed for our freedom.
I am glad to be part of this magnificent event – an exhibition brought to the people of the Northern Cape, to display to them part of their heritage, as best captured in these photographic images by photographers Mr Andrew Tshabangu and Mr Sefako Maboya.
It is Kahlil Gibran, the great philosopher and artist that said, “Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love, but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple, and take alms of those who work with joy.”
As a democratic government, we continually seek to increase public participation and involvement. Thus, we are very excited about the Freedom Park Trust photographic exhibition that’s visiting all the provinces of the country, to display the cleansing and healing works as performed by the people in these provinces.
We are grateful that this is part of our heritage, and it is being exposed to the people who own it. I especially appeal to our learners, the youth, to embrace our rich culture and heritage.
As a province, we need to be encouraged to develop an interest in displaying our culture and heritage, in similar exhibitions. We need to expose the hidden talents of the people of the Northern Cape, in a way that attracts tourism to the arts and culture sector. Our collective efforts in this manner will create job opportunities and as a result, better the lives of our people.
When we celebrate Africa Day on the 25th of this month, we will seek to display our African Writers’ Series at our libraries throughout the province, and people are also welcome to visit the Duggan Cronin exhibition at the Gallery, near the McGregor museum on Africa Day. I urge you to make time to visit these facilities, and observe displays put together for your enlightenment. People of the Northern Cape need to take notice of the arts and culture activities and facilities belonging to them.
Remember to honour Africa Day as it marks the continuation of solidarity amongst Africans both in the diaspora and the continent.
The 45 photographs captured at all the cleansing and healing ceremonies in all the nine provinces, will be displayed in the Northern Cape as of today until 30 May 2005, before moving on to other provinces.
I wish to congratulate the Freedom Park Trust Team, and wish them all the best with the exhibition to all the provinces and I trust that the people of Kimberley and the Northern Cape will enjoy the exhibition and learn from it.
Thank you.
Issued by: Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Northern Cape Provincial Government
19 May 2005
Source:Department Of Sport, Arts & Culture
Title: Molusi: Freedom Park Trust photographic exhibition
Department of Sport, Arts and Culture MEC KD Molusi delivers keynote address at Freedom Park Trust photographic exhibition, Duggan-Cronin Gallery
Member of the Provincial Legislature, Mr Galela
Head of the Department, Mr Esau
Mr Sipho Mdanda of the Freedom Park Trust
Distinguished guests
Learners
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen
In the year that we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Charter in this country, it pleases me that we are undertaking to display our culture and customs in ways such as these.
After all, the Freedom Charter had made a commitment that “all the cultural treasures of mankind shall be open to all”!
The Freedom Park Trust photographic exhibition here today, exists as a result of work done, culturally and spiritually.
These photographic images are significant because they will always serve to remind us of our culture and heritage as people belonging to South Africa.
But most importantly, these photographs are the eyes into a history of the people of the Northern Cape, and South Africa, as reflected in the process of cleansing and healing, from an undeniably painful past.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we are here this morning to become witnesses to this colourful photographic exhibition, which was made possible through the capturing of photographic images during the cleansing and healing ceremonies held throughout the country, including the Northern Cape – a process which brought together a lot of people and created an understanding in the workings of faith-based organisations as ceremonies were conducted in the open.
I am of the opinion that we all identify with the need to have cleansing and healing ceremonies, considering the past we’re from as a nation.
The Freedom Park Trust, had as a mandate to create a national heritage monument of humanity and freedom that acknowledges and remembers the unsung heroes and heroines who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. This led to the Trust co-ordinating the cleansing of pain in efforts to bring about healing of our nation.
Reflecting on the Constitution of our country, it declares in the preamble that we adopted, as a country, to heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights. The -preamble also states that the people of this country recognise the injustices of the past.
Reconciliation takes place through the healing of the divisions of the past, which is brought to realisation, as we have already executed, through these cleansing and healing ceremonies conducted.
President Thabo Mbeki said in a debate on the vote of the Presidency in June 2003, that:
“Fortunately, there are many in our country, both black and white, who understand very well that reconciliation is not just a ‘feel-good concept’, that the finalisation of the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission did not end the need to strive for reconciliation, that reconciliation is not, and cannot be the status quo.”
I wish to add that the Freedom Park, conceptualised partly from recommendations of the TRC, retains the national memory of our past and collectively honours those who fought and sacrificed for our freedom.
I am glad to be part of this magnificent event – an exhibition brought to the people of the Northern Cape, to display to them part of their heritage, as best captured in these photographic images by photographers Mr Andrew Tshabangu and Mr Sefako Maboya.
It is Kahlil Gibran, the great philosopher and artist that said, “Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love, but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple, and take alms of those who work with joy.”
As a democratic government, we continually seek to increase public participation and involvement. Thus, we are very excited about the Freedom Park Trust photographic exhibition that’s visiting all the provinces of the country, to display the cleansing and healing works as performed by the people in these provinces.
We are grateful that this is part of our heritage, and it is being exposed to the people who own it. I especially appeal to our learners, the youth, to embrace our rich culture and heritage.
As a province, we need to be encouraged to develop an interest in displaying our culture and heritage, in similar exhibitions. We need to expose the hidden talents of the people of the Northern Cape, in a way that attracts tourism to the arts and culture sector. Our collective efforts in this manner will create job opportunities and as a result, better the lives of our people.
When we celebrate Africa Day on the 25th of this month, we will seek to display our African Writers’ Series at our libraries throughout the province, and people are also welcome to visit the Duggan Cronin exhibition at the Gallery, near the McGregor museum on Africa Day. I urge you to make time to visit these facilities, and observe displays put together for your enlightenment. People of the Northern Cape need to take notice of the arts and culture activities and facilities belonging to them.
Remember to honour Africa Day as it marks the continuation of solidarity amongst Africans both in the diaspora and the continent.
The 45 photographs captured at all the cleansing and healing ceremonies in all the nine provinces, will be displayed in the Northern Cape as of today until 30 May 2005, before moving on to other provinces.
I wish to congratulate the Freedom Park Trust Team, and wish them all the best with the exhibition to all the provinces and I trust that the people of Kimberley and the Northern Cape will enjoy the exhibition and learn from it.
Thank you.
Issued by: Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Northern Cape Provincial Government
19 May 2005
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