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 concernSchedule 3 – State organs will

cooperateSchedule 5(2) (a) – the Minister can

implement subject to the availability of resources

5 (2) (b) (ii) – issues of appropriation5 (2) (b) (iii) – signing of SLA’s

Schedule 7 (d) (i) – (vii) – strategies and programmes (conflict)

Legislative issues:1994 – White Paper on Arts, Culture &

Heritage1996 – Responsible Tourism Guidelines

1997 – Skills Development Act1998 – Cultural Institutions Act

1998 – DACST – CIGS1999 – NHRA, Act 25 of 1999

2001 – National Heritage Council Act

PROGRAMME RESULTS:

National Liberation Route – NHC, LOTTO funded, DAC, Provincial Govt

DAC – Commemorations eg Matola RaidThe Freedom Park - honouring

DT – Tour GuidingPHRA & Local Govt

SASSETA

SITUATIONLack of coordination

Limited fundingProducts 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

1999Definitions - “graves of fallen heroes” are

covered by the ActPrinciples of how to use the resources for socio-economic development are further dealt with (2

and 3d rights, fines, access etc)

HeritageWhat 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 challengesSocio-economic cannot take off effectively owing to

skills problemsIssues of RPL and how to fit Veterans into economic

mainstreams has been challenged from the startVeteran Narratives are large economic areas – film,

literature, DVD games etc etcNational Liberation Route – struggles to take off, lack of

skills

Education and TrainingVeterans should be serviced by the SETA system

– but majority of veterans do not pay SDLSASSETA therefore struggles to fund skills

developmentsAlso issues around appropriacy of qualificationsCrumbs in terms of training – limited budgets,

lack of research, still no RPLConsolidate 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