SOUTH AFRICA, June 04, 2007: Hindu groups in South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal province are being starved of funds by the province’s arts and cultural department allegedly on racial grounds, says this article. The organizations are claiming that the art department has sidelined them and most of the grants-in aid have gone to the African bodies in recent years. “In a country that boasts of a democracy that generates equal opportunity and recognition of all cultures, it is sad to learn that the KwaZulu-Natal Arts Council seems to have lost all interest in funding any cultural organization except black groups,” said Thlosiah Naidoo, director of the Indian Academy of South Africa. Many Hindu organizations have alleged that they have encountered serious problems in trying to promote cultural and religious activities.
The Natal Tamil Vedic society has also taken a knock after the department stopped its grants-in-aid a few years ago, the iol.co.za reported. “We have contacted the department on numerous occasions about this issue but have not received a reply. We had to resort to fundraising and donations from businesses and individuals dedicated to serve the community,” said Dorie Moodley, spokesperson of Tamil Vedic Society. Another group that has been hard hit is the nearly 60-year-old Hindi Shiksha Sangh that supports cultural and educational needs of the Hindu community, including the popular Hindvani radio station. But the arts department has denied any form of discrimination and said funds were allocated according to needs. “It was not the department that allocated the grants-in-aid, but an interim committee of the KwaZulu-Natal Arts council. Any suggestions of discrimination or racism are strenuously denied. Grants are awarded according to a process and not along racial lines,” said Ncumisa Fandesi, a spokesperson of the department of arts and culture.