Kha Ambe NATION IN DIALOGUE Ri November | 2013 CHAMPIONS of Risk Management African Writers Conference & Literary Awards Majoy the artist, Mama B and Trevor Moses arts & culture Department: Arts and Culture REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA www.dac.gov.za whats from the inside... desk Client’sEditorial needs should be uncompromisingly met Good to great .......................................3 African writers’ conference ....................4 he constant review of put it out there on sale with other Risk champions .....................................5 product is something that any commercial publications? Keeping Congratulations to risk Tentrepreneur or organisation it focused on its core themes of arts, should undertake periodically. In a culture and heritage as drivers of management team!! .............................5 highly competitive global world in development and social cohesion is Minister Imbizo in Ivory park ................6 which markets are infiltrated and the challenge before us. Deputy Minister Imbizo in Jane Furse .....7 consumers are spoiled with ever- I maintain that constructive criticism widening ranges of product choice, DAC supports the 16th annual is always welcome because it forces companies are under pressure to Macufe festival ....................................8 us to reflect on how we can improve perform in order to keep clients. Tribute to the late liberation struggle the publication. We won’t always be heroine Rahima Moosa ........................8 One of the reasons many products flawless, mistakes might happen. But The launch of 20th anniversay of struggle to succeed in the market we are ready to take responsibility is because they lose touch with for and learn from them, and move freedom democracy seminar series ....... 9 consumers’ expectations. They forward. We thank those who are not The opening of freedom exhibition ........9 become more predictable, shy to come out and tell us where The memorial lecture for outdated and irrelevant. Times we have gone wrong. Constructive Chief Albert Luthuli ............................ 10 change rapidly, and as trends criticism ought to be like a mirror that and systems of operation are one can look into, and take corrective Selfless contribution of the elders ....... 10 continually modernised, services action. Majoy the artist touched by DAC .......... 11 need to re-align themselves to So far, accolades received hugely Social cohesion right on track ............. 12 markets that are always craving outweigh criticisms. We take that something different. Getting to know Mama B .................... 14 to mean we are doing something Freedom fridays officially launched by All these human, social and good. However, we cannot afford to Minister Mashatile ............................. 15 technological transformation disregard the views of the people DAC rallies behind Amahlubi Tribe ....... 15 affects every sector. For who consume this product. When instance, the electronic and they criticise, like any other supplier, My experience at the social media take huge market we take stock by reviewing, analysing national archives ................................ 16 share from the traditional and evaluating whether it‘s still Letter to the editor ............................. 17 print media by bringing news relevant to the market. As your On the couch with Trevor Moses .......... 18 as it happens. The challenge editorial team, we are only servants Browsing books with Sibongile ............ 20 facing print media today is to the needs of the consumers who how to keep its fires burning. should echo what interests them Youth musical groups from One way to do this is by most, so that we duly provide. Colombia visits South Africa ................ 21 refreshing the ‘old’ story and I’m always encouraged by the high presenting it with a different The four health questions women demand for the publication from our angle that will entice often grapple with ............................. 22 stakeholders and the public. Daily I audiences to read it. Welcome to our new colleagues .......... 23 receive a great number of requests The question we at Kha ri for subscriptions. I hope our newly Ambe ask ourselves of every revamped website and intranet will EDITORIAL TEAM edition is how it should make provision for responding to maintain continuity of such requests so that we expand MANagiNG Editor: James Mathibeng thematic content from one our distribution. We have committed WRITERS & PHotograpHY: James Mathibeng, Madimetja Moleba edition to the next (such ourselves through this magazine to & Josias Pila as by providing follow-up demonstrating to the public that our EDITING, DESIGN, LayoUT AND PRINTING – Shereno Printers and reports-back on issues department provides more services ONLINE LINK: http://www.dac.gov.za/newsletter.html raised previously) without than just being involved in music and losing sight of the need festivals. INformatioN DESK: 012 441 3639/3000 to bring you new, fresh ADVISORY BOARD and relevant information. God bless you, Lisa Combrinck | Teresa Magidela | Premi Appalraju What will make our James Mathibeng magazine stand out, give CONTRIBUTORS it a competitive edge, if, Winston Mohapi | Betty Spencer | Sizakele Dlamini | Sandile Memela | for instance, we were to Charmaine Hlatswayo Dear colleagues he past five years have probably been the most difficult in the global economy Great Tsince the Great Depression. What started as a burst of the property bubble in the US has had far reaching consequences right across My column to the globe. Banks have closed down or gone to my colleagues through rigorous restructuring and bail outs, global trade has fallen substantially, jobs have been lost, etc. Here in South Africa, while we did not experience the worst of the financial crisis, we were not completely spared the economic hardships. Due to reduced demand in our key trading countries, our trade declined creating economic problems here at home. Due to these problems, tax collections have declined. In order to sustain delivery, government has had to borrow more and more. In fact, despite the economic challenges, the national budget has continued to grow. The costs of servicing debt are now the fastest rising item on the national budget. You may wonder where I’m going with this. Well, the point is, we have reached a point where our budget is unlikely to grow much further, unless the economy makes a significant improvement. This means that we have to do more with less resources, quite literally. The medium term budget policy statement by the minister of finance focused on measures to reduce unnecessary expenditure and wastage in government, without compromising service delivery. At the DAC, we have issued a circular explaining how we will achieve this. We will eliminate all forms of wastage, ensure greater efficiency gains and savings. We will Sibusiso Xaba | Director General cut the frills and make do with basics. In order for us to achieve this, we will require the entire DAC family to work together to achieve this. The medium term budget I trust that we will have your co-operation on this matter. policy statement by the minister of finance focused Till next time, keep smiling on measures to reduce and shining unnecessary expenditure Sbu KHA RI AMBE | NOVEMBER 2013 3 AFRICAN rs’ Write Conference Risk Winston Mohapi, Deputy Chairperson: SALA Advisory Board The 2nd Africa Century International African Writers’ Conference, a South African Literary Awards legacy programme, will take place from the 7th to the 9th November 2013 at Museum Africa, in the Newtown Cultural Precinct in Johannesburg. The conference will observe 7 November as the 22nd Anniversary of the African Union’s (previously the Organisation of Africa Unity – OAU’s) International African Writers’ Day. he theme of the writers’ aspects of the programme, including conference is: “Dispossessed. delivering keynote addresses, Award Components TRepossessed: Land Matters in presentation of papers, poetry, book African letters.” discussions, writing workshops, a Monetary Prize schools’ programme and exhibitions. The three-day conference will Currently at R30 000, this monetary prize culminate in the SALA 2013 Awards Other highlights of this interesting and increases by R10 000 annually subject to ceremony where winners will be exciting three-day programme include: availability of funds. The exception is only for the honoured on the 9th November. The • An International African Writers’ National Poet Laureate, whose monetary prize is inaugural South African Literary Awards Day lecture; R100 000, and the Literary Journalism Award of was held on 5 March 2005 in KwaZulu R40 000. Natal when the status of National Poet • an evening of poetry reading with Laureate or Imbongi Yesizwe Jikelele the national poet laureate, Prof Certificates was bestowed on Professor Mazisi Keorapetse Kgositsile; These bear the name and genre/category of the Kunene. • a creative writing skills development winner. Prof Kunene was recognised for his programme; Trophy of Honour selfless dedication to foregrounding • Tsebo-Lethabo Primary and High and championing African literature, School Programme; and This denotes the candidate as the winner of this particularly literature in the indigenous prestigious trophy. African languages. • books, art & craft and clothing exhibitions. Re-publishing opportunities In 2006, Dr Z Pallo Jordan, then Minister These awards, like similar honours, revive interest of Arts & Culture, praised the awards The events offer opportunities