The NDP has this to say
about the role of arts,
culture and heritage in
our society
cultural and creative industries are our country’s “new gold”.
Input presented by Director-General Xaba on
behalf of Minister Paul Mashatile at the Tourism
Summit
As we implement the Mzansi Golden Economy we will continue
to seek partnerships across sectors and with all stakeholders,
This we say in reference to the historic role that gold played in
the development of the South African economy.
We think the cultural and creative industries are today playing
the same role that gold historically played in our economy.
Our implementation of the Mzansi Golden Economy Strategy is
also premised on the view that; societies with greater levels of
Social Cohesion tend to be more economically prosperous.
Economic prosperity, therefore, and social inclusion are two
sides of the same coin. You can not have one without the other.
“Culture, the arts and other parts of the creative economy
have a potential to generate employment and export earnings.
Foreigners visit South Africa to see, understand and learn
about its peoples and cultures. The arts and the related
creative economy are thus an asset that needs investment to
promote opportunities for more people, often outside the formal
economy.”
Consistent with this understanding, as the Department of Arts
and Culture, we are implementing the Mzansi Golden Economy
Strategy.
Through this Strategy, we are channeling large scale investment
into the creative economy; to unleash its potential to contribute to
nation building, social cohesion, growing the national economy,
job creation and the building of sustainable livelihoods.
We are doing this also based on our understanding that the
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CORPORATE SOCIAL REVIEW