Question NW2715 to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture

Reply:

In 2020/21, as part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus package, the National Library of South Africa (NLSA) was allocated an amount of R60 million in response to the job losses that came because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Half of the amount, R30 million was allocated to the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa (NARSSA) for the digitisation of archival records and the remaining R30 million to NLSA for the digitization of newspapers and periodicals. The allocation was mainly to be used towards the appointment of 326 unemployed youth and the procurement of digitisation equipment. As a result, 453 youth benefited from the project which commenced in November 2020 to August 2022.

Equipment such as scanners for different formats of records, film cleaning equipment, computers etc. were procured to digitise paper and audio-visual materials.

Since November 2020 until 31 March 2022, the employed interns that were placed at NLSA digitised the following:

ITEM	NUMBER
Number of images digitised	206 050
Number of items converted using Optical Character Recognition	192 979
Number of items bound and repaired	10 649
Number of items with metadata added	165 478

At the National Archives, the interns worked on the following, and it should be noted that the formats that were digitised are unique, and the digitisation equipment was not received on time, however preparatory work was conducted prior the delivery of the equipment:

ITEM	NUMBER
Number of pages digitised	72 811
Number of photographs digitised	78 333
Number of Treason Trial dictabelts digitised	727
Number of TRC Audio tapes digitised	911
Number of items with metadata added	28 060

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

QUESTION NO. 383

INKOSI B N LUTHULI (IFP) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF SPORT, ARTS AND CULTURE

Whether, in view of the controversy with different organisations in the arts and provincial orchestras communiting that there has been a lack of transparency around the establishment and the budget of the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra, with the funding to be administered by the National Arts Council of South Africa, he will provide (a) an itemised list of expenditure and (b) details on how it will be monitored and distributed. NO3306E

REPLY

1. It is not true that there was some form of lack of transparency in the process of establishing the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra. As indicated before, a team of experts from the very same sector was appointed for the purpose of the conceptualisation of the company. Based on the concept document, a proposal was then developed and submitted to the National Arts Council of South Africa for funding. Based on the contract between the NAC and the National Orchestra, a total amount of R51 946 570 which constitutes funds that were reserved or ringfenced for a period of over three- financial years; 2019/2020, 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 financial years – has been allocated. These are funds that were earmarked for development of orchestras.

Note that eighty percent of the above total amount which is R41 557 256 has already been transferred as grant to the National Orchestra and R10 389 314 is to be transferred after the submission of reports. As per the contract. seventy-five per cent should be spent on programming while the balance on the administration. In line with the concept document, the National orchestra should ensure that these resources are allocated appropriately for national and international tours, skills development and for supporting the development of orchestral activities mainly to benefit the previously disadvantaged provinces.

In as far as the reporting or accounting of the monies is concerned, there are serious contractual obligations which should be adhered to, and this include the submission of detailed financial expenditures with audited financial statements signed by a registered accounting firm. Any money that has not been utilised by 2023/2024 financial year would have to be returned back to the NAC.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

QUESTION NO. 403

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30 AUGUST 2022: INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 28 - 2022

QUESTION 403: MR. A ZONDI (ANC) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF SPORT, ARTS AND CULTURE: 

How, is his department leveraging digital economy, given that digitisation and technology opportunities have created new opportunities for creative artists to leverage platforms to promote their creative work and earn from it.

REPLY

1. There are several projects that the Department is supporting and/or implementing to enable the creative industry to leverage the digital economy. Amongst them is the Debut Program that capacitates particularly the young creatives opening up opportunities to occupy the Digital space and grow their businesses. Also, the Department is supporting Ditshego Media (PTY) LTD towards the project “Master Class/ Mentorship Session on Social Media Management and Content Hub programme for South African Youth in Sport, Arts and Culture’.  With this project, Ditshego Media (PTY) has been able to conduct numerous Master Class / Mentorship Sessions at different Provinces across the country which attracted youth from different sectors of the Cultural Creative industries including Sport to learn the intricacies of Social Media Digital Platforms Management and how they can utilise these platforms to maximise the exposure of their products to various markets, build audiences and clients for their services. 

At present, the Department has a 3-year contract with

Ditshego Media (PTY) LTD ending in 2023/24. 

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

QUESTION 404-2022

ORAL REPLY

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 28–2022, DATE OF PUBLICATION 30 AUGUST 2022:

Ms V P Malomane (ANC) to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture;

(1) How is his department working with creative artists and traditional authorities to promote arts and culture that plays a critical role in moulding a society’s values, principles, diverse identities and cultures, as part of nation building;

(2) Whether his department is creating art centres for children to be involved in arts, if not, why not; if so what are the relevant details? NO3247

REPLY:

1. The Department continues to play its role as the custodian of the government’s programme of action on social cohesion and nation building, with regular progress reports to Cabinet, and reports are also published and made available in the public domain for scrutiny. As part of ensuring that all sectors have a role to play and that there is a firm commitment about this, we are now finalising the letter and spirit of the social compact for social cohesion and nation building. Engagements are still in progress at NEDLAC on this and we expect to have reached sufficient consensus on this compact before the end of this current financial year.

1. As the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, we support the establishment of community arts centres; however, the co-operation of all spheres of government is critical. This is in line with the Revised White Paper on Arts and Culture 2020 which states that ‘all three spheres of government to cooperate in providing facilities and resources for the development of arts, culture and heritage at community level with a recognition that each tier of government has different competencies in relation to community arts.

The Department has adopted a strategy for the development of Community Arts Centres called Provincial Community Arts Development Programmes, which is a programme that supports provinces to develop and implement their own community arts development programmes to position and organize the community arts sector to support the overarching government objectives of access and participation in the arts by all South Africans, including school going and out of school children. Children arts programmes across all genres are offered in all community arts centres but we do not have centres that cater only for the children.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

QUESTION NO. 405-2022

ORAL REPLY

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO.28–2022, DATE OF PUBLICATION 30 AUGUST 2022

MS D P SIBIYA (ANC) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF SPORT, ARTS AND CULTURE:

What (a) mechanism is his department using to ensure that the Municipalities include sport infrastructure maintenance and development in their plans, and (b) measures are in place to ensure the Municipalities comply with the regulations of the municipal infrastructure grant allocated for sport facilities

Reply

a) The provision and maintenance of Sport and recreation facilities is the constitutional responsibility of Local Government. Be that as it may, through the intervention of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the Sport and Recreation Norms and Standards volume 1 provides guidelines for municipalities to maintain and safeguard their Sport and recreation facilities. Further to the guidelines during Municipal Infrastructure Grant ring-renfed allocation, Municipalities are required to demonstrate that they will maintain the facilities by confirming the budget for maintenance in their business plans for three years.

b) Measures are in place to ensure that Municipalities comply with regulations, in terms of Sport and Recreation facilities, Municipalities must ensure that the facilities constructed are in compliance with the norms and standards. During implementation phase, Municipalities present their designs to the Department to confirm and approve them before construction. Progress meetings are conducted and where construction has started, site visits are conducted. On a monthly basis, municipalities are required to submit the monthly progress reports.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

QUESTION NO. 433 - 2022

FOR ORAL REPLY

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30 AUGUST 2022 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO.28- 2022)

“Mr. B S Madlingozi (EFF) to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture:”

1. What is the rationale behind the R22 million monumental flag project that has been referred to cabinet for further discussion and formal decision.
2. Whether he has found that this project is more important than addressing the plight of artists in the country; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details? N03278LE

REPLY:

(1). As part of transforming our heritage landscape, the Department has a responsibility to introduce monuments that show our transition from apartheid to democracy. This is in the light of the fact that one of the key mandates of the Department is to promote nation building and social cohesion. National symbols, especially the national flag, expresses the country’s common identity which is pivotal to building a common national identity and advancing unity.

(2). Transforming our heritage landscape post 1994 does not make the plight of our creatives any less important. Both these matters are important and are given the necessary attention by the Department.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

QUESTION NO. 460-2022

FOR ORAL REPLY

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 28-2022 DATE OF PUBLICATION 30 AUGUST 2022

“Mr T W Mhlongo (DA) to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture”

Whether the National Arts Council of South Africa met with him to discuss the alleged proposed appointment of Mr Tshepo Mashiane to the position of Programme Manager: Capacity Building, after the specified person was told that his appointment had been irregular more than a week after he was appointed to the specified position; if not; has such meeting been scheduled; if so, what are the relevant details? NO3305E

REPLY:

I had a meeting with the Council of the National Arts Council after the reported irregularities and the alleged involvement of Council members in the process leading to the appointment of Mr Mashiane. The purpose of the meeting was to seek clarity from Council on the report as submitted to the me by the Chairperson of Council. I am not involved in staff appointment matters of the National Arts Council or any other entity of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

QUESTION NO. 461

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30 AUGUST 2022: INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 28 - 2022

MRS V VAN DYK (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF SPORT, ARTS AND CULTURE.

1. Where did the public participation meetings take place before the recent establishment of the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra;

Whether he will furnish Mrs V van Dyk with a copy of the list of all the individuals that participated in the specified public meetings. NO3306E

REPLY

1. The idea for the establishment of the national orchestra is not something that was internally created by the Department, but was raised during the public hearings process of the Revised White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage. This idea is part of the approved Revised White Paper which the Department had to implement. Chapter 4.1 of the Revised White Paper provisions are made for, inter alia, the establishment of ‘Orchestral companies with youth components each resident in a different province cross-subsidised by national, provincial and metro funding. National companies must be developed so that their artistic reputations for excellence contribute to the advancement of cultural tourism in the cities in which they are located. National companies must be subsidised to embark on a touring circuit’. South Africa has always entrenched good public policy-making practices, this by setting out clear principles for effective policy development and implementation. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa stipulates that people’s needs must be responded to, and that the public must be encouraged to participate in policymaking process. All the processes were adhered to before the Revised Paper was approved. When implementing the recommendation of the Revised White Paper, the Department appointed a team of experts from the sector who assisted in the conceptualisation.

1. It is practically impossible to submit all the names of those who participated in the Revised White Paper process at this stage. However, I can confirm that the following participated as part of the team of experts for the conceptualisation of the orchestra; Mr Louis Heinemann (CEO of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra), Mr Kutlwano Masote (Independent Educator and Conductor), Mr Lindumuzi Mngoma (Independent Educator and Conductor), Mr Bongani Tembe (CEO of the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra), Mr Shadrack Bokaba (former Acting CEO NFVF), Ms Julie Diphofa (former Acting CEO NAC), and Ms Lindi Ngcobo (Project Manager: NAC). All meetings by the team of experts were held at the National Arts Council (NAC) offices in Johannesburg.