Lionel Mtshali will be sailing outgoing minister Ben Ngubane’s old boat — but not rocking it. HAZEL FRIEDMAN reports
FROM arts and culture to agriculture. That’s where the outgoing Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Professor Ben Ngubane, is heading when he assumes his new post as minister of finance and agriculture in the Inkatha Freedom Party’s (IFP) government. And, with his newly acquired green thumb, he’s giving the thumbs-up to incumbent, Lionel Mtshali. Minister of education in the KwaZulu government and MP in the KwaZulu National Assembly since 1994, Mtshali might have succeeded in his efforts to upgrade schools, teaching skills and literacy in the rural areas, but he’s going to need a lot more than a master’s degree in education to cope with the cultural lesson he is about to receive.
But both ministers have a tentative spring in their respective strides. Ngubane will embark on a crash course in farming and rural development, shifting from the the drafting of White Papers to the rustling of green.
Mtshali, for his part, seems more than willing to fill the gentlemanly shoes of his predecessor, set the wheels of the White Paper on Arts and Culture in motion and focus on the development of previously neglected cultural areas. That’s the good news.
The bad news is that no one really knows the fate of the arts in this country. Rumours are rife in cultural circles that the ministry might soon be disbanded and absorbed into the Ministry of Education.
There are also fears that culture will never be upgraded from step-child status; that it is low on the government’s list of financial priorities; and that its principal purpose is to perform the role of the sacrificial lamb to the gods of political expediency.
Yet both ministers deny the end is imminent. “We’ve fought too long and too hard to secure a distinctive, separate and well-deserved place for arts and culture in South Africa”, says Ngubane. “I would be extremely surprised if it were to go to education, because that would amount to a total regression.” Mtshali is equally optimistic about the future for arts and culture.
Due to be sworn in on Monday, he admits to “great surprise” at being appointed to the position. But he is “excited by the challenge of implementing all the good work my predecessor has started. In all fairness to the good of this country, I feel obliged to follow in the footsteps of Dr Ngubane by looking to the White Paper as the guiding principle for the future of arts and culture.” Sounds fair enough. On paper that is.
Born in 1935 in Kingsley, KwaZulu-Natal, Mtshali’s credentials would make him a viable candidate for a job in the education ministry — not commander in chief on the cultural battle-front. But, for what is broadly acknowledged as a political appointment — the government chose the incumbent arts minister from a list of candidates submitted by the IFP – — he is a safe bet. A staunch IFP member since his student years during the 1970s at Fort Hare, he is less adept at Sturm und Drang politics than playing follow-my- leader. In other words he prefers sailing in the boat to rocking it.
He also believes it is “crucial to have a co-operative relationship with key people” such as the director general of the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Roger Jardine, and other administrative heads.
Although he disputes its relevance to his portfolio, he is of conservative disposition and deeply religious. But he doesn’t seem to hold strong views on issues such as censorship and freedom of expression. In fact he doesn’t seem to hold strong views on anything to do with culture. Except the inheritance bequeathed him by his predecessor, namely, the White Paper. Oh, and his cultural passions include reading and listening to choral music.
But while it’s unlikely that his appointment will prove earth-shatteringly revolutionary (or, for that matter, reactionary), it should be remembered that his predecessor, Ngubane, wasn’t to the ministry born either. The ex-KwaZulu minister of health with the diplomatic demeanour epitomised the unthreatening outsider — an IFP moderate who favoured participation in the election.
Sometimes called “the bear who really cares”, he was also called the “great straddler” and accused of being too conciliatory. But Ngubane came up with some surprises. He took on Winnie — and won. Among numerous unenviable tasks, he launched the long-overdue White Paper amid shrieks of “white elephant”. He emerged with his dignity and faculties intact. And many believe he has been unflinchingly committed to the cause of culture.
“It has been a tough task, transforming the performing arts councils, attempting to address cultural grievances and redressing past imbalances,” he recalls, “and it is a pity to be leaving so soon when there is still much to be done. But it has been a time of great stimulus, encouragement and challenge”. He adds: “We must have faith and work together to ensure the birth of a new cultural spirit”.
Ever the faithful shoe-filler, Mtshali echoes his sentiments.