Question to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture - NW743

30 March 2023 - NW743

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

(1)Whether he has found that Mr Bongani Tembe consulted important role players such as the (a) Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble and (b) MIAGI Youth Orchestra before he established the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra (MNPO); if not, why not, in each case; if so, whether any of the specified two entities received and/or accepted funding from the MNPO; if not, why not, in each case; if so, what total amount in each case? (2) whether any of the specified two entities received and/or accepted funding from the MNPO; if not, why not, in each case; if so, what total amount in each case

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Reply:

1. The formation of the national orchestra was not a personal endeavour by Mr Tembe; the national orchestra was established by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) as part of its responsibility to implement the Revised White Paper on Arts and Culture which was approved by cabinet in August 2018 and endorsed by Parliament in 2019. DSAC oversaw a consultative process, however, we are not going to be highlighting individual organisations whether they were consulted or not.

2. The Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra allocated R20 million in 2022 to more than 38 regional orchestras, youth orchestras, educational and community initiatives throughout South Africa. This list is attached herewith as Annexure A

This Ministry and its Department of Sport, Arts and Culture do not get involved into the operations of the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra.