Question NW3595 to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
27 October 2022 - NW3595
Van Dyk, Ms V to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
(1). What are the reasons that the approved Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme 3 (PESP3) list for funding was published late. (2). whether he has found to be true the allegations that the National Arts Council (NAC) had spent the two hours that the specified list was late for interfering and fiddling with the final adjudication decisions of the Advisory Panels; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the reasons that the NAC was involved in the delay of the publication of the PESP3 list. (3). what are the reasons that the NAC interfered in the process when persons who are not members of the NAC, such as an advisory panel, are in accordance with section 11(3) of the National Arts Council Act, Act 56 of 1997, supposed to advise the NAC on the merits of applications for grants and on any matter relating to the field of the arts for which it was appointed?
Reply:
(1). The List was not published late, the NAC published the approved list on the due date (30th September 2022) on all the social media platforms. The social media sites were our quickest way to disseminate the approved list following the crash of the NAC website due to extremely heavy traffic. The website was then restored after a couple of hours and the information was also made available on that platform.
Council does not and did not adjudicate any applications. Please refer to point 2 above where they clarified the role of Advisors vs the role of Council Members. Additionally, the ACT clearly states that “Panel Members advise the NAC on the merits of applications”. This means that they advise, but do not approve, as that is the role of the Council (as the Accounting Authority of the entity). All final Council-approved Applicants are from the pool of applications that have been adjudicated by the Advisors.