Question NW2201 to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture

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27 September 2021 - NW2201

Profile picture: Van Dyk, Ms V

Van Dyk, Ms V to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture

(1).(a) What total amount of his department’s budget was spent on the SA Music Industry Council’s (SAMIC's) elective conference and (b) where did the money come from; (2). what measures did his department take as a precaution to see to it that public money is not reduced into wasteful expenditure, considering the previous track record of the SAMIC's non-compliance, as well as direct and indirect mismanagement of public funds; (3). whether any bodies and/or organisations indicated to him and/or his department their intention to contest the constitutionality of the elective conference and its outcomes in court; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (4). given that his department has funded the elective conference, what is the short-term plan and long-term plan that justifies the urgent need to fund the legitimisation of SAMIC's existence, seeing that there is no track record of tangible programmes as per its mission and objectives other than meetings, hotel bookings and travelling costs, or can his department provide the relevant details? NW2502E

Reply:

1. The Department approved a grant for R602 000 to SAMIC for the hosting of this conference and the funds were sourced from MGE Cultural Events budget.

2. Upon approval of the grant, the Department entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with SAMIC stipulating the conditions of the grant and deliverables as the clause of the contract.

3. To our knowledge, no formations or individuals indicated any intention to contest the outcome of SAMIC elective conference. The Department has since received the SAMIC close out report as per the contractual obligation.

4. SAMIC was funded like the other sector organisation in the arts and culture sector with the objective of building capacity and creating a platform for engagements to strengthen their programmes and operations.

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