During CASAC EC’s official opening at the PE Opera House last Friday were, from left, Lefa Mosea (artist), CASAC EC General Secretary Lithemba Busakwe, Mandela Bay executive mayor Danny Jordaan, Linda MagengeneneMoyake (East Cape Midlands College), Gcobani Poltini (Arts Council) and Junior Ferreira of PE’s Finest dance group.
PHOTO:NCEBA DLADLA
NCEBA DLADLA
NELSON Mandela Bay youth is responding positively to the call by executive mayor Danny Jordaan to use their arts in telling unique South African stories and in that way create economy.
New Brighton actor Xabiso Zweni and dancers PE’s Finest, from the Northern Areas, proved just how talented they are as they captivated audiences and left them calling out for more during the official opening of the CASAC Eastern Cape Cultural Festival at the PE Opera House last Friday.
Jordaan, who officially opened the Colleges Association for Sport Arts and Culture (CASAC) EC Technical and Vocational and Education Training (TVET) Colleges lauded Zweni for his well-crafted and presented one-man play and
PE’s Finest for their Marikana tale dance.
“This is absolutely brilliant,” said Jordaan of the monologue and dance routine.
“Through arts which forms part of the creative industry, Mandela Bay has found a solution to unemployment and poverty,” said Jordaan.
He challenged the youth to use their creative genius as SABC Chief Operations Officer Hlaudi Motswaneng has called on SABC radio and television to play content of 90% of local music and drama. The mayor said BayTV must also create a platform for local artists to shine.
“We are waiting for you, play-writes and directors, to put up productions about the Mandela Peace Park in Motherwell. This could include other Nobel Peace Prize laureates like Bishop Desmond Tutu,
former Deputy President FW De Klerk, Chief Albert Luthuli, the Dalai Lama and President Barak Obama,” the mayor said, adding that all these great luminaries were known for having delivered very powerful speeches in their careers.
He said Motherwell, like the cultural precinct of the Red Location Museum, must develop a business hub which would attract tourism as part of township economy.
Mandela Bay Arts Council general secretary Gcobani Poltini said as artists they were working handin-glove with the metro municipality and were thankful to the executive mayor for his support.
The CASAC Festival is an annual celebration of different cultures through story-telling, debating, dance, music and poetry. Eight Eastern Cape TVET Colleges took part in the festival.
