Committee Programme discussion

ARTS AND CULTURE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
12 June 2007
COMMITTEE PROGRAMME DISCUSSION

Acting Chairperson:  Ms P Tshwete (ANC)

Documents handed out:
None

SUMMARY
The Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Pallo Jordan, sent an urgent message of apology to the Committee, for his inability to attend the Meeting.

The Committee discussed its programme and agreed that the Acting Chairperson would try to arrange an alternative appointment with the Minister, if possible before Friday, 22 June.

MINUTES
Cancellation of Ministerial Briefing
The Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Pallo Jordan, spoke urgently by telephone to the Acting Chairperson, apologising that he would be unable to attend this meeting on account of circumstances beyond his control.

Committee Programme
The Acting Chairperson said that the Committee was still working on the programme that it had initiated and drawn up at the planning session held at Gordon’s Bay on 5-6 March.

She noted that the Committee’s meeting scheduled for Tuesday, 26 June 2007 had been cancelled. The midyear recess was due to begin on Friday, 29 June 2007.

Ms D Van der Walt (DA) proposed that the Committee obtain the first available appointment to meet with the Minister, and then reschedule its meetings accordingly.

The Acting Chairperson said that it was essential to meet with the Minister before the midyear recess.

Ms D Ramodibe (ANC) seconded the above proposal.

The Committee agreed that the Acting Chairperson would try to arrange an alternative appointment for the Committee to meet with the Minister, if possible before Friday, 22 June 2007.

Ms D Kohler-Barnard (DA) expressed strongly her displeasure at the Minister’s inability to attend.

Other Members believed that she had expressed herself too strongly.

The Acting Chairperson noted that the Minister could not be in two places at once and asked for the Honourable Member’s understanding of the situation.

The Acting Chairperson confirmed that she would inform members in writing of the date, time and venue of the next meeting.

She expressed her approbation of the “excellent” budget speeches given by Members of the Committee in the National Assembly.

Mr M Sonto (ANC) commended in Ms van der Walt in particular on her constructive speech.

Ms D Van der Walt (DA) added that it was good that each Member had spoken in the budget speeches on a different topic.

The meeting was adjourned.