MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Ms. Bernice Sinxeve has encouraged authors at the 11th Northern Cape Writer's Festival to write in their mother tongue. MEC Sinxeve was addressing festival delegates at the Sol Plaatje University during its official opening in Kimberley on Wednesday, 09 October 2019. She was accompanied by the university's Vice Chancellor Professor Yunus Ballim, Head of Department Ms. Ruth Palm and other dignitaries.
The 11th Northern Cape Writer's Festival kicked off with a round table discussion at the Sol Plaatje University's central campus on Wednesday, 09 October 2019. Although the opening ceremony was meant to be addressed by former UNISA's Vice Chancellor Professor Barney Pityana, the keynote speaker could not make it to Kimberley due to unforeseen circumstances. However those in attendance were not deterred but rather focused their attention to discussing "Responding to Global Rage through Literature".
During her opening remarks MEC Sinxeve emphasised the use of indigenous languages. She described authors as critical role players and opinion shapers. "Without the written word, life would be a very dull place". She expressed how writers have a critical role in all facets of our daily lives. She further said that writers mould our thought patterns and opinions, they are the creators of ideas and they make audiences think attractively.
Ms Sinxeve believes that the Festival will provide an excellent opportunity for writers to speak about their work, for the audience to hear from their very utterances and constructively engage with the many authors during the cause of the festival on a number of levels.
Festival goers expressed varying views on the role that literature plays in responding to global rage. The session had Professor Ballim, author and a poet Sabata Mpho Mokae as well as a poet Ms. Diana Ferrus on the panel.