Aggrieved members of the Amandebele, Tsonga and Venda communities marched to the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC) in Tshwane on Friday, to voice out their dissatisfaction regarding the apparent marginalisation of their languages by public broadcaster SABC.
Aggrieved members of the Amandebele, Tsonga and Venda communities marched to the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC)
“We need Amandebele on TV; We need Vhavenda on TV; SABC Treat Us Like IsiXhosa; SABC Treat Us The Way You Treat isZulu,” read some of the placards which were carried by the protesters outside the DSAC offices.
The joint memorandum by the Tsonga and Venda communities reads as follows:
“Tsonga and Venda communities continue to face under-representation on TV, in films, sports and other media platforms that shape one’s identity and inspire the youth.”
Aggrieved members of the Amandebele, Tsonga and Venda communities marched to the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC)
The memorandum continues as follows:
“For many years the spotlight has predominantly focused on isZulu, isXhosa, Setswana and Sotho cultures, while Venda and Tsonga voices, languages and stories are being neglected and this imbalance has resulted in the slow fading of our identity, heritage and cultural pride.”
The memorandum demands the following:
1.Tsonga and Venda languages must be given time that is equal to that given to other languages during prime time on TV.
2. The return or creation of Venda and Tsonga dramas, soapies and movies.
3.Increased investment on Venda and Tsonga producers, actors and directors.
4. Inclusion of Venda and Tsonga languages in the National Anthem.
5.Promotion of sports, arts and cultural initiatives that showcase and celebrate Venda and Tsonga heritage.
“We believe that giving Venda and Tsonga an equal chance will not only preserve our languages and cultures but will also unite the nation and inspire future generations,” concluded the memorandum.
The memorandum of the Amandebele community was presented by the KwaNdebele Movement and it reads as follows:
“The KwaNdebele Movement was formed by Amandebele, most of whom recite in Mpumalanga and the main purpose of this initiative is to make sure that the culture, language and history of Amandebele doesn’t disappear, but that it is passed on to the next generations.”.
The memorandum laments the fact that the content presented to Amandebele on TV doesn’t encourage them to be affectionate and proud of their own language and culture.
“We have also realised that our language and culture don’t have expression at the country’s broadcaster SABC,” read the memorandum.
The KwaNdebele Movement wants programmes, shows, documentaries and dramas that are strictly presented in Isindebele and that their largely rejected and “left out” language will in this way have a chance to voice out its craft and variety of stories for its people and that this can only happen through the SABC.
“We want the SABC to recognise and take into consideration the only native language that it has been neglecting since the advent of democracy,” lamented the KwaNdebele Movement.
The memorandum decries the fact that drama series Tshisa was originally written in isiNdebele but was changed into another language by the powers that be at the SABC.
“As the SABC celebrates 80 years of it’s existence, it is painful to realise that Isindebele is still being sidelined by the public broadcaster,” said the movement in the memorandum.
Copy of a Memorandum: