UPDATE 28 JUNE 2021 National Arts Festival Makhanda We got so close. So close to seeing you all socially distanced in rows, taking in the delight of a return to live theatre. But tonight’s family meeting changed the course of #NAF2021. Of course, we built this Festival with a plan B, so please bear with us as we refine and reposition the plan to fit our new reality. We will be in touch soon but know that we’re committed to ensuring our artists and technicians will still have work and we are committed to giving them a place to show…
Author: Staff Reporter
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Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa has announced the appointment of the Steering Committee to drive and implement the development of the National Khoi and San Heritage Route. The National Khoi and San Heritage Route identifies, conserves, maps and promotes the heritage of the Khoi, Nama, Griekwa, Khorana and San through the identification and promotion of significant Khoi and San heritage sites. The Minister announced the appointment of the nine Committee members in a statement on Monday. Cabinet approved the National Khoi and San Heritage Route on 3 June 2020. The Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture said the…
The Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC) MEC Fezeka Nkomonye on 8 June 2021 officially inaugurated the Eastern Cape Provincial Geographical Names Committee (ECPGNC) council in Bhisho. “The re-establishment of the ECPGNC council is an attempt by the DSRAC to ensure the continued identification, management, conservation and promoting of heritage resources in the Eastern Cape Province,” Nkomonye said in a media release. “This is not just about the names, but it speaks to our identity as a nation, we have a task to construct a common identity that affirms the culture, language and symbols of the indigenous people…
The Tsitsikamma fires that forced authorities to close the N2 on Monday are under control after destroying more than 2 400 ha of forestry plantation. The fires that have kept hundreds of fire fighters busy for four days and three nights started on 21 June 2021 at Coldstream and Koomansbos in the Tsitsikamma. Five Working on Fire teams (WOF), SanParks and MOT fire fighters together with seven tankers were doing mopping up and patrolling at Coldstream this morning and two WOF teams based in Koomansbos were also mopping up and monitoring, said WOF spokesperson Nthabiseng Mokone. “The fire is under control…
The Gauteng South High Court has ruled in favour of the National Arts Festival for the balance of the sum that was carried over for consideration from a court ruling in late March 2021 when the National Arts Festival Grahamstown NPC took the National Arts Council (NAC) to court. The claim was for payment of R8 million awarded to the company that runs the National Arts Festival as part of the NAC-managed Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme. The funds were intended for a range of projects administered by the National Arts Festival Grahamstown NPC, creating over 440 jobs and stimulating much…
Strong winds have fanned a fire that started at Witelsbos in Tsitsikamma and forced authorities to close the N2, Working on Fire reports. Five teams ( Witelsbos, Sarah Baartman, Tsitsikamma, Longmore, Kromsriver) from the western part of the Eastern Cape together with Aerial Resources (one chopper) have been dispatched to assist MOT (Mountain to Ocean) and SaNParks in suppressing the fire that started this morning. Working on Fire (WOF) is a programme of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment. “This fire is said to be out of control and the N2 road is still closed,” said communications officer Nthabiseng…
The National Health Department says it is ready to start vaccinating teachers from next week. Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccines are expected to arrive in the country Friday 18 June. This is according to the department’s Technical Advisor, Dr Aquina Thulare, who was briefing Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health. Thulare said the aircraft carrying the consignment of 300 000 COVID-19 J&J shots will touch down at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday, 18 June 2021. The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared this batch for use in the country. The rollout of the single-dose vaccine suffered setbacks after the…
Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer has welcomed the announcement that the European Commission has approved the registration of the designation ‘Rooibos’/’Red Bush’ in its Register of Protected Designations of Origin and Protected Geographical Indications. According to a statement released by the EU Delegation to South Africa, Rooibos / Red Bush is the first African food to receive the status of a protected designation of origin in the EU register. Product names registered as protected designations of origin have strong links to their origin since every production, processing, and preparation aspect must take place in that specific origin…
The first collection of shows on the 2021 National Arts Festival Experience programme has been announced. The hybrid festival sees the National Arts Festival return to live stages in Makhanda from 8-18 July, and for the first time in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Gqeberha and Durban ahead of the Eastern Cape event with a series of shows called Standard Bank Presents, in theatres from 17 June to 4 July. The National Arts Festival Online programme will also unfold through the month of July on the Festival’s website. The Festival Experience features new elements such as Standard Bank Presents, as well as audience favourites such as…
Unemployed youth who live in the Eastern Cape, between the ages 18 and 35 are invited to apply for 1 051 Expanded Public Works Programme job opportunities advertised on the department website www.ecdpw.gov.za. The job opportunities available range from the EPWP maintenance programme, where the department needs 51 Supervisors with Grade 10 and two years’ supervisory experience. The Youth Brigades Programme seeks 18 Health and Safety representatives with an Occupational Health and Safety certificate or Environment Health (a 1-year diploma in OHS will be an added advantage); 694 Monitors with grade 12 and 288 Cleaners with grade 12. A declaration of health must be signed by selected…