A public-private partnership will co-fund the development and production of a television drama series embracing South Africa's indigenous language diversity and specifically address the development of marginalised official languages Siswati, Ndebele, Tshivenda and Xitsonga. |
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Jacaranda 94.2 and the Department of Arts and Culture have each donated R2 million to the project, with the SABC making up the balance with resources and airtime.
"We are undertaking this project because we strongly believe that broadcasting can play an important role in the development and promotion of our cultural diversity. The development of South Africa's indigenous languages is an integral part of that process," said Jacaranda 94.2 Managing Director Mike Siluma.
SABC1, South Africa's largest TV channel, will commission and broadcast a multi-lingual drama series, with the full endorsement of the Department of Arts and Culture.
"The SABC plays a key role in the development and growth of South African culture. A local drama series using the official marginalised South African languages will make a significant contribution to the recognition and value of these languages as part of our country's rich and diverse cultural and story-telling heritage," commented Dali Mpofu, Group Chief Executive Officer of the SABC.
SABC1 will issue a brief for the series to all South African independent production companies on open tender. The best entries will be commissioned and televised in 2007.
