Media Statement

02 May 2023

Minister Pandor on the Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa Statement

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, has noted the statement issued by the Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa, calling on her to apologise for appearing to undermine the arts in an interview.

Minister Pandor apologises for any offence caused by her comments to the members of the Arts community.

The interview, on 14 September 2022 with the Council on Foreign Relations, based in the United States, focussed on skills that are needed on the African Continent, and the Minister stressed the need to increase the number of young people in what is often referred to as “critical skills.”

Minister Pandor was misunderstood as demeaning the arts, which was certainly not her intention.

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