Tag Archives: Mangaliso Matika

Saul to lead Northern Cape Heritage Day celebrations in Namakwa

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Picture: Northern Cape Premier, Dr Zamani Saul

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

22 September 2026 – The Northern Cape Premier, Dr Zamani Saul will lead the province’s 2026 Heritage Day celebrations at Matjieskloof Sportsground in the Namakwa District on 24 September 2026. Saul will be joined by the Northern Cape MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Mangaliso Matika, other Members of the Executive Council, as well as leaders from the Namakwa District and local municipalities.

Saul spokesperson, Naledi Gaosekwe said the event will be held under the theme: “Celebrating Our Living Heritage: Strengthening the Ties That Bind Us.” Gaosekwe said the theme highlights the importance of living heritage as an expression of identity, memory and belonging.

“Living heritage is expressed through our languages, music, dance, rituals, oral traditions, indigenous knowledge, craftsmanship, beliefs and customs. The celebrations will also coincide with the Annual Provincial Indigenous Games Festival, which will take place across all five districts of the province.

“The festival will feature nine traditional games, including Kgati, Morabaraba, Intonga, Diketo, Jukskei, Kho-Kho, Dibeke, Drie Stokkies and Ncuva. The Indigenous Games would provide communities with an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on traditions while ensuring that cultural heritage is passed on to younger generations,” she said.

Gaosekwe further said the Indigenous Games give communities a practical opportunity to celebrate traditions and practices that continue to shape South Africa’s diverse cultural identity, while passing this heritage on to younger generations. She added that the programme will begin with a commemoration, followed by Saul’s keynote address and a Heritage Parade bringing communities together to celebrate the province’s cultural heritage.

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DA calls for investigation into Northern Cape geographical name changes

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By REGINALD KANYANE 

10 April 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) has requested the Northern Cape MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Mangaliso Matika, to investigate the legality of a series of provincial name changes over the past ten years, given the absence of a functional Provincial Geographic Name Change Committee (PGNC) since 2015. The DA said in response to its concerns raised during the 2024/2025 Annual Performance Plan presentation, the department has revealed that the last PGNC term started in 2011 and was extended for another year at the end of 2014. 

The DA provincial spokesperson for Sport, Arts and Culture, Reinette Liebenberg, who is also a Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) said there has been no PGNC since 2015, as the department claims that it is difficult to establish the necessary requirements due to the process being coordinated by the office of the MEC. Liebenberg said the DA is concerned that the department may have spent millions on illegally changing geographical names in the province. 

“We have warned the department about this since 2022, when we first found out that the Northern Cape is the only province without a functional PGNC in place.

“Matika now has a duty to probe the legality of the name changes and to hold the department accountable for contravening the South African Geographical Names Council Act 1998 (Act 118 of 1998),” she said. 

Liebenberg further said he must also explain what happened to the filling of the advertised vacancies for board members in 2023, following a commitment by former MEC, Desery Fienies, that positions for board members would be advertised. She added that the DA will further submit questions to determine exactly which names were changed by the department since 2015, how much was spent on the name changes and whether public participation was fairly instituted.

“Name changes must not come at an unwarranted cost to the province,” said Liebenberg.

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A call to represent Northern Cape on Board of National Arts Council

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Picture: The Northern Cape MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Mangaliso Matika

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

26 January 2025- The Northern Cape MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Mangaliso Matika, invites nominations for a suitable candidate to represent the Northern Cape to serve on the National Arts Council Board. Matika said in terms of Section 4(1) of the NAC Act (Act 56 of 1997) read with Section 21(a) of the Cultural Laws Amendment Act (Act 36 of 2001) , it specifies that the Council of the NAC shall consist of nine provincial representatives who shall within the province in question by public and transparent process, which shall be determined and overseen by the responsible member.

He further said the nominee should possess special knowledge and experience in the field of Arts, Management, Finance, Human Resource, Legal, Marketing and Liaising, Fundraising and willingness to render community services.

Matika added that the remuneration of the appointed Council Member will be in line with the rates prescribed by the National Treasury.

“All nominations must be in writing with the following information, a nomination letter containing full names and contact details of the nominee, signed letter of acceptance (of nomination) by the nominee, and a recently updated Curriculum Vitae of the nominees, including 3 contactable references.

“This includes certified copies of the nominees’ identity document as well as educational qualifications. No nomination will be considered unless all of the above documents are included. Correspondence will only be entered into with shortlisted candidates,” he said.

Meanwhile, nominations should be submitted to the Office of the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture by 7 February 2025.

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