The arts and creative industries hold the unique power to build empathy and drive behavioural change, says Deputy Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike.
Letsike was speaking at a stakeholder engagement on the empowerment of women, youth and people with disabilities held at The Playhouse Company in Durban on Tuesday.
Held under the theme: “Addressing social ills through the creative industry”, the stakeholder engagement addressed the creative industry as a vehicle to highlight the impact of violence against people with disabilities, sex workers, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and intersex (LGBTQI) individuals, and women and children, among others.
The engagement demonstrated other opportunities available to address gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in the communities through sports, arts and culture.
In her address, Letsike said the arts and creative industries hold the unique power to influence social consciousness, build empathy and drive behavioural change.
“Music, theatre, visual arts and storytelling can reach the hearts and minds of audiences, raising awareness and influencing behaviour in ways that traditional methods sometimes fall short of achieving.
"The creative industry also plays a vital role in educational prevention and intervention by using different art forms as vehicles for teaching respect, empathy, and non-violence,” Lestsike said.
Letsike said producing artworks that convey the harsh realities of discrimination and creating powerful theatre productions that depict stories of resilience, the arts can foster crucial conversations around what it means to be a healthy society and nation.
She said the arts can shift societal mindsets and challenge outdated norms that perpetuate violence and discrimination against women, girls and LGBTQIA+ people.
“In this way, the industry becomes not just observers but active participants in reshaping the narrative of our nation. Further, the wide reach of the creative arts fraternity offers long-term, comprehensive, adaptable, context-specific, and holistic approaches to prevention that target all people living in South Africa through its messaging,” Letsike said.
The Deputy Minister underscored the need for citizens to adopt an all-of-society approach, where every individual, community and institution takes an active role toward addressing the country’s social challenges.
She said every South African must understand that ending social challenges is a national obligation for all.
“This is the message that must be carried far and wide by the cultural and creative industries,” the Deputy Minister said.
Letsike encouraged every individual in the industry to continue their “astounding” work that touches the hearts and minds of the nation, and has the potential to turn the tide against violence directed at women, children, LGBTQIA+ people and people with disabilities, and eliminate the social acceptance of all forms of discrimination.
Continues to address GBVF
Letsike said government continues with efforts toward addressing GBVF through the implementation of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on GBVF.
“The NSP represents our unified, multi-sectoral approach to addressing this scourge across all levels of society. We have also launched the National Comprehensive GBVF Prevention Strategy, which broadens the scope of our interventions and places particular focus on preventive measures to stop GBVF before it starts.
“To date, these frameworks have led to the establishment of improved survivor support services, enhanced legal frameworks, and strengthened partnerships with civil society and the private sector.
"We continue to work closely with our partners, including community organisations and faith-based groups to ensure that our interventions reach every corner of society,” the Deputy Minister said.
The event was held as a build-up to the District Development Model Presidential Imbizo that will take place on Friday, where President Cyril Ramaphosa will assess service delivery and engage with the people at Umnini Sports Field in Umgababa, south of Durban. – SAnews.gov.za
