‘I’m bored by the constant lack of vision and self-awareness’ — Naledi Pandor slammed for arts ‘dig’

Celebs have slammed international relations and co-operation minister Naledi Pandor's “dig” at the arts industry, saying there is a role for entertainers as much as there is a need for critical skills.

This after a video of the minister discussing the state of democracy in Sub-Saharan Africa with the Council on Foreign Relations resurfaced on social media. 

In the video, Pandor stressed the need for people to learn critical skills, while also seemingly throwing shade at the arts.

“We must ensure we have greater skills development on the continent in critical skills areas. I don’t think, you know, we want more arts trainers.

“Sorry to the arts people but I think science is very important — technology, engineering — because those are skills we desperately need. In the finance and economic sectors we need highly-trained people in information and communication technology. Skills would be critical,” she said. 

Designer Thula Sindi, actress Florence Masebe and veteran media personality Felicia Mabuza-Suttle were among the celebrities who stressed the importance of arts in the country.

“These comrades are all the same. She might have a different accent and subjectively better table manners but they are all the same. I'm not surprised. Just bored by the constant lack of vision and self-awareness,” Thula wrote. 

Felicia said: “A society that does not value its arts and culture is a dying society. In the case of South Africa, Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela used to remind us that arts and culture played a critical role in our liberation struggle.”