Minister Anroux Marais' official launch of Oral History Initiative in Piketberg

All protocol observed,

Good day, molweni, goeiemore

My short time as the Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport afforded me greater insight into the diversity of the Western Cape. This is largely due to the diverse and dynamic nature of the department itself. The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport is responsible for Cultural Affairs, heritage; museum; language; library; archive; sport; recreation; and school sport services to the province. As you can see, the Department’s scope is wide and diverse and in my opinion is an absolute pleasure to be a part of. 

Net nadat ek as Minister ingesweer was, het ek besin oor my visie vir die department.  Ek het die departement se mandate en verantwoordelikhede deeglik oorweeg. Die storievertelling van mondelinge geskiedenis inisiatief het na verskeie skakelings met verskillende belanghebbendes in die veld 'n visie en nou amptelik 'n werklikheid geword. Daar kan tog nie 'n beter manier wees om al ons dienste saam te bind as deur ons stories te vertel, na die stories van ander te luister en in wese ons mondelinge geskiedenis, ons lewensstories met mekaar te deel nie. Ek is oortuig dat die Mondelinge Geskiedenis deur Storievertelling Inisiatief sal bydra tot maatskaplike insluiting en 'n viering van ons diversiteit.

While preparing this speech I wanted to add a renowned quote to express the significance of storytelling and there were so many that I could not chose one. So these are the few I would like to share with you:

People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact it’s the other way around – Terry Pratchet

Stories break silence and nourish those who work, feel and dream – Carmen Naranjo

When you stand and share your story in an empowering way, your story will heal you and your story will heal somebody else – Iyanla Vanzant

Shine your light, share your journey. When you are courageous you create a spark that ignites and inspires others to be brave - Unknown

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you – Maya Angelou   

In a time where our world needs much healing, more social inclusion and rather celebrating our diversity as opposed to it being a dividing factor, sharing your stories is significantly relevant to making a positive change in our communities. 

Ek kan nie nalaat om te noem dat baie van die mense waarmee ek oor hierdie inisiatief gepraat het verbaas was oor hoe prakties uitvoerbaar hierdie beginsels en inisiatief was. Eenvoudig gestel, moedig ek elke persoon, ongeag van ouderdom, geslag, godsdiens, kulturele agtergrond of politieke affiliasie, aan om hul stories te deel: of dit nou jou lewensverhaal of 'n tydperk in jou lewe, professionele, persoonlike of sosiale verhaal is. Enige storie wat gebaseer is op ware gebeure en die impak wat dit op jou gehad het wat jy voel belangrik genoeg is om met ander te deel. Die sportgemeenskap is ook betrokke by hierdie inisiatief, want ek glo sport het die potensiaal om lewens ten goede te verander en mense te verenig. Ter opsomming wil ek die volgende sê: Die visie van hierdie inisiatief is om die verskillende komponente binne die Departement van Kultuursake en Sport te integreer deur die vaslegging en dokumentering van die stories van gemeenskappe in die Wes-Kaap. Ek voorsien dat die uitkomste die volgende sal insluit:

• Verseker dat persoonlike geskiedenisse en ervarings in gemeenskappe en in die regering lewendig gehou word sodat toekomstige geslagte hul erfenis kan vier
• Om by te dra tot sosiale insluiting
• Omdat ons ons stories in biblioteke gaan deel, gaan hierdie inisiatief biblioteke en museums bevorder as sosiale vergaderplekke waar gemeenskappe hul stories kan dokumenteer.

On that note, with much excitement, this initiative has officially been launched in beautiful Piketberg today and will be rolled out in each district across the province going forward. I look forward to hearing your stories and eventually reading about your collective community stories in our museums in time to come.
I thank you. 

Media Enquiries: 

Stacy McLean
Spokesperson for Minister Anroux Marais
Email: Stacy.McLean@westerncape.gov.za
Tel: 021 483 4426
Cell: 083 504 1171