Question NW146 to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
05 March 2021 - NW146
Van Dyk, Ms V to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
With reference to his reply to question 2480 on 30 October 2020, and in light of the fact that 128 out of 278 municipalities are in financial distress and are failing in service delivery, bill services and revenue collection according to the 2019 report by the Auditor-General, as well as the fact that his department’s budget has been adjusted and reduced by a billion rand because of the COVID-19 pandemic, (a) what budget allocation will be made available to the affected municipalities that are required to allocate an operational budget for the removal of statues, (b) where will the money actually come from to support the removal and management of (i) statues, (ii) symbols and (iii) geographical names?
Reply:
It is too early to know what budget allocation will be made available to relocate and curate statues, monuments and memorials that are not in line with the spirit and values of the South African Constitution. The first phase of the transformation project, which is the national physical audit of statues, monuments and memorials in all 52 districts of the country, will be completed in the first quarter of the next financial year. The due diligence exercise will result in a costed implementation plan on the basis of which informed decisions about budget allocations can be made.
a) The due diligence exercise referred to in (a) above will result in a costed implementation plan on the basis of which informed decisions about the budget source(s) as well as where the budget will come from to relocate and curate identified (i) Statues, (ii) Symbols and (iii) Geographical Names.