By Nangamso Mabindla
17 April 2007

THE recognition of local artists, the celebration of heritage and culture and the improvement of libraries were some of the concerns raised by residents of Amathole District when the national government imbizo reached the East London City Hall.

National Minister of Arts and Culture Pallo Jordan; the province's MEC for sports, recreation, arts and culture, Noxolo Abrahams Ntantiso; and Buffalo City and Amathole District Municipality councilors attended the meeting.

Explaining the purpose of the imbizo, Jordan said that it was the government's way of listening to the needs of its citizens. "When we go on imbizos we want to see if our policies are successful in reaching the people; we want to have direct communication with the people."

The minister encouraged people to raise their concerns, which included a lack of mobile libraries for remote rural areas. "I have noted the unavailability of libraries and I am happy to say that in this financial year we have budgeted for local government to purchase mobile libraries," he said.

Responding to questions regarding an Umkhonto we Sizwe museum to teach people about the armed struggle, Jordan said that his department was funding a film on the armed struggle due to be released in June or July.

"We are also looking at funds to build a museum that is going to talk about the armed struggle."

Abrahams Ntantiso said that her department was serious about improving the quality of libraries in Eastern Cape. "Mdantsane is the second biggest township in the country and yet there is no proper library; that is why we are building a big library in the township," she said, adding that her department was also looking into establishing craft hubs.

Other heritage and related projects included the National Liberation Route in Qunu, Mthatha. "This project is in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Museum and the National Heritage Council."

Abrahams Ntantiso said heritage and culture were alive in the province, with several tourism routes already up and running, such as the Inyathi-Buffalo Route, the Phalo Route in Mnquma and the Sandile Route.