2. On 11 March 2003 the then Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Dr Ngubane, approved the transfer of the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, the National Museum and Natal Museum from DAC to DST - following the submission made by the Science and Technology

Branch.

3. Subsequent to this decision, a meeting was held with the same Minister (both Branches represented) in which the Arts and Culture Branch concurred to the transfer of the Zoo to Science and Technology, but expressed its reservations about the transfer of the National Museum and Natal Museum.

4. As a corollary to these discussions, the Minister placed a moratorium on the transfer of these institutions on the understanding that further consultations through public hearings had to happen before a final decision could be taken.

5. The aim of this briefing is to inform the Portfolio Committee of the implications of the proposed transfer of the National Museum and the Natal Museum.

6. Consultation within DAC, with the institutions concerned and a study of the proposed legal framework suggest that while it may be appropriate to transfer the Zoological Gardens to DST, there is a need for the Natal and National Museums to be better integrated into Arts and Culture rather than being transferred to DST. The discussion will place emphasis on the following

issues: transitional challenges; co-ordination; research capacity; legal framework; audit of cultural property and the skills audit.

7. The call for transfer of the National and Natal Museums came at the critical stage when the Department of Arts and Culture was (is) redefining itself as the separate, autonomous government Department.

8. Adding to this transitional challenge has been the inauguration of the new Ministry of Arts and Culture that is separate from the Ministry of Science and Technology.

a. It would be fair to allow the current Minister of Arts and Culture adequate time to reflect on the matter.

b. It would be inappropriate for DAC to accede to the call for the transfer of these museums to Science and Technology, given the fact that DAC, as a new Department and as a new Ministry, is at the stage of conceptualising the review of its policies and legislation. Such policies and legislative frameworks could have significant ramifications on the governance of the institutions in question.

9. The DAC is of the view that if a decision of this magnitude is taken, it should be informed by a long-term vision as well as by policy/legislative directives rather than be a response to the Department of Science and Technology's demands for the implementation of the National Research and Development Strategy and the National Biotechnology Strategy.

10. The museum sector is a single sector (irrespective of arts, culture, heritage or science focus) that needs a co-ordinated policy and governance approach.

For instance, the sector is experiencing common challenges posed by slow transformation process. Very few museums have attracted new audiences. The sector is being characterised by racial and gender imbalances and few if any of these institutions have a long-tem plan to substitute the skills that are dissipating due to retirement. There is a lack of an effective and efficient governance model to increase accountability of these museums.

11. A comprehensive, coherent policy and strategy-driven approach is required to deal with the afore-mentioned challenges. The Department of Arts and Culture launched the National Heritage Council (NHC) in March 2004 to link and synergize the activities of the archives, museums, SAHRA, etc. in a co- ordinated way.

12. Taking the Natal Museum and the National Museum out of the sector will be a mistake and might hinder the transformation of the institutions and the broad policy direction of the department.

13. The other reasons for DAC 's concern about the transfer of these museums are as follows:

• Both the Natal Museum and the National Museum have collections covering both human culture and the natural sciences.

• Both the Northern Flagship Institution (NFI) and lziko Museums of Cape Town have natural science components in them. Neither of the two government departments has deliberated on this matter nor have they attempted to address questions of policy that will arise in the

event of the transfer of these institutions.

• There is always a grey area in museums between the human/cultural sciences and natural sciences. For example archaeology is a scientific investigation of cultural material; the same applies to anthropology. Even art museums need to resort to scientific methodologies in the

conservation and management of their collections.

• Some of the natural science collections in the museums are of historical and cultural importance. For example the mammal collection in the Natal Museum, which is of great historical importance and if properly interpreted from the cultural perspective could help in enhancing knowledge and understanding of indigenous knowledge and traditional practices.

• There is a need for the National Museum to work more closely with the War Museum to promote better accountability, governance and the more efficient utilization of resources. This will also in the long run better facilitate the transformation of these two institutions. The same applies to the Voortrekker Museum and the Natal Museum. Splitting the Natal and National Museums off from the DAC could therefore hinder rather than promote good governance.

14. Section 6(1) of the National Heritages Resources Act (Act no 25 of 1999) (NRHA) directs that the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), after consultation with the Minister of DAC by notice in the Gazette;

• Prescribe any principle for heritage resources management in addition to , but not inconsistent wit the principles of general heritage resources management.

• Prescribe any principle set out in the general principles of heritage resources management in greater detail, but not inconsistent therewith.

15. It is therefore clear that SAHRA should advise the Minister of DAC on the appropriateness of the transfer of the museums to DST.

16. Whilst the DAC appreciates the significant role of the two museums in research and knowledge production, it also sees these museums as entrusted with the most vital function of preserving and protecting the national estate.

17. The major concern of the DST seems to be that research capacity in the natural sciences in general and in these two institutions in particular, is diminishing. This is indeed a cause for concern, not only to these two institutions but also to all museums in general. There is a need to address

this concern.

18. However, cutting off the two museums from the Heritage Sector (Arts, Culture and Heritage) is not a panacea to the current challenges. In fact, the government has created a mechanism - the cluster approach to deal with matters of common interest. There could be a Sub-Committee within the National Heritage Council that could be tasked to promote the needs of scientific research (be it in the natural or the human sciences) in the broad museum sector at national, provincial and local spheres and to collaborate in this regard with the Institutions of Higher Learning, the NRF, the HSRC and the CSIR. In this way the objective vision of Science and Technology of implementing the R&D Strategy can be achieved within the current institutional arrangement.

19. It is also very important for the DAC not to lose institutions with a research capacity, otherwise the department may become insignificant within government and be perceived as the entertainment arm of government.

20. Whilst it is true that the Natal and National Museums perform functions that are scientific in nature, the museum components of these institutions are significant and these cultural heritage collections deemed national assets.

21. These national assets are therefore appropriately protected under the current legal framework and the continued protection must be paramount in considering a proposed transfer. The possible DST model does not appear to ensure this protection.

22. All the functions performed by the two institutions are defined as the National Estate in terms of section 3 of the NHRA.

23. The primary aim of the NHRA is to ensure protection and management of the National Estate.

24. In this context section 5 (5) of the NHRA directs the following in terms of the general principles for heritage resources management "Heritage resources contribute significantly to research, education and tourism and they must be developed and presented for these purposes in a way that ensures dignity and respect for cultural values."

25. It is therefore clear that preservation of the National Estate takes precedence and research has a secondary role to its management.

26. The current museum environment, which is governed by the Cultural Institutions Act over and above the collections management has the perfect infrastructure to conduct research in a controlled environment, run educational programmes and be significant tourism destinations.

27. The DAC has recently embarked upon the audit of the national estate in order to take stock of the movable cultural property at the nation's disposal. A memo to this effect has gone to Cabinet and the separate briefing document to the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture is being prepared. It is completely desirable to have a stable heritage sector if an exercise of this

nature is conducted. There is a possibility that the audit findings could have a tremendous influence in the manner in which the sector is configured and thus could have huge policy implications.

28. Linked to the national audit of heritage objects is the skills audit. South Africa is experiencing the dearth of skills in the Heritage Sector. A cursory glance at our institutions, particularly museums, highlight the fact that the leadership is not only aging but also characterized by both racial and gender imbalances and yet there are no specific plans to replace them. It is therefore incumbent upon the Department to undertake the skills audit so that it can have a comprehensive understanding of existing and non-existing skills. This will enable the Department to develop an appropriate human resource development strategy that is informed by the present reality. These museums stand to benefit from these initiatives.

29. It is recommended that the Portfolio Committee endorse the retention of the Natal and National Museums in the Department of Arts and Culture.