Underpressure Agency Military Veterans Bill [B1-2011] Presentation: 31 March 2011

Who are we? A company focussed across issues to do with socio-economic development through heritage. This includes museum and heritage site development, LED research and vocational/skills developments in heritage. In 2009, UP was recognised as an ISOE in Cultural Heritage in SA by the MAPPP SETA.

Why are we commenting on this platform? Working in the heritage sector, with the up-skilling of Military Veterans as one of our projects, we understand and experience the challenges which we feel will impact on the DMV interpreting and implementing the Bill. Statements from DMV place emphasis on issues of Heritage.

Our focus is therefore centred on Schedules 3, 5 & 7 of the Bill in terms of three fundamental issues: Heritage – what is it, who manages it, how will DMV work through it in order to ensure that it reaches the objectives of effectively honouring and commemorating Military Veterans while at the same time bringing out the principles of socio-economic development? Education, Skills and Training – what is really going on here? Will the Bill work in the current landscape?

What is our concern therefore? How will the Bill work once ratified given the challenges we find in the heritage and skills sectors? What must be further looked at now?

Areas of concern Schedule 3 – State organs will cooperate Schedule 5(2) (a) – the Minister can implement subject to the availability of resources 5 (2) (b) (ii) – issues of appropriation 5 (2) (b) (iii) – signing of SLA’s Schedule 7 (d) (i) – (vii) – strategies and programmes (conflict)

Legislative issues: 1994 – White Paper on Arts, Culture & Heritage 1996 – Responsible Tourism Guidelines 1997 – Skills Development Act 1998 – Cultural Institutions Act 1998 – DACST – CIGS 1999 – NHRA, Act 25 of – National Heritage Council Act

PROGRAMME RESULTS: National Liberation Route – NHC, LOTTO funded, DAC, Provincial Govt DAC – Commemorations eg Matola Raid The Freedom Park - honouring DT – Tour Guiding PHRA & Local Govt SASSETA

SITUATION Lack of coordination Limited funding Products are supply driven RPL and Skills issues still not dealt with Research and databases fragmented, duplicitous?

DAC versus DMV(mandate) NHC versus DAC (policy, funding) PHRA versus NHC (process) SAHRA versus DMV (process) Local govt versus SANMVA (process)

Bill [B1 – 2011] How will it implement, manage and ensure that the objectives of the DMV are met within this context?

National Heritage Resources Act, Act 25 of 1999 Definitions - “graves of fallen heroes” are covered by the Act Principles of how to use the resources for socio-economic development are further dealt with (2 and 3d rights, fines, access etc)

Heritage What is it? Who does what, how? Immediate flaw – Act 25 misinterpreted – set up as part of Departments, thus nullifying the role of the body

Chicken or the egg? Honouring & Commemoration - Names Collections – SAHRA, The Freedom Park, Civil Society, Veteran Organisations, DoC (youths, not Veterans) (issues around criteria) Repatriation – NPA, SAHRA, assumptions also made in terms of other bodies such as FP Socio-Economic Developments – DAC, DoC, LOTTO, NHC, Local govt etc etc

Key challenges Socio-economic cannot take off effectively owing to skills problems Issues of RPL and how to fit Veterans into economic mainstreams has been challenged from the start Veteran Narratives are large economic areas – film, literature, DVD games etc etc National Liberation Route – struggles to take off, lack of skills

Education and Training Veterans should be serviced by the SETA system – but majority of veterans do not pay SDL SASSETA therefore struggles to fund skills developments Also issues around appropriacy of qualifications Crumbs in terms of training – limited budgets, lack of research, still no RPL Consolidate the above – CATHSSETA & SASSETA

Bill [B1 – 2011] has a vision: How do we get there?

1. Take ownership of the heritage of Military Veterans 2. Clearly identify who is doing what, how 3. Rectify through policy and procedure 4. Manage other organs of state, ensure budgets are appropriated