Question NW4138 to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture

Reply:

(a). The Department have through the COVID 19 pandemic recovery plan aim to focus on the following Five Critical Priority Areas:

• • Job creation using the employment multiplier model through the PESP 2&3
  • Creating an enabling environment through the Regulatory Environment
  • Enabling access to local and international markets
  • Monetisation of the cultural, creative and sport industries
  • Enhancement of the arts, culture; heritage and sport tourism as well as the Cross-cutting priority of reviving the economy through Infrastructure development through the DSAC contribution.

(b)(c). The department have through the following programmes that focussed on the above priorities

(i) continue to support the CCI industry in 2022/23 utilizing PESP Budget allocation; using the employment multiplier model, where creatives are funded to create work for themselves. The allocation to the implementing agencies and the focus areas are as follows:

National Arts Council (NAC): to be responsible for disbursement to the following domains.

Performance and celebrations (including the area of theatre, dance opera); Design and Creative services; Books and Publishing (including indigenous language development and promotion); and Public Art.

National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF): Audio-Visual and Interactive Media.

National Heritage Council (NHC): Cultural Heritage.

National Museum (Arts Bank): Visual Arts and craft.

Business Arts South Africa: Support to SMMEs and/or Cooperatives in the Creative industry.

In PESP 3, 44 329 Jobs have been created over the target of 24 400 jobs and in PESP 4 the target number of jobs is 37 800 and to date, 11 478 jobs have reported, and the number will increase, and some projects are currently implementing their projects under PESP4 which should indicate that PESP has contributed to the growth and sustainability of the CCI sector.

(ii) Enabling the creative industry to thrive Creating spaces in the provinces that were previously marginalized. e.g. declaration of Nelson Mandela Theatre Complex in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape provided with a budget of R13m for operational costs; and R17m for infrastructure and maintenance in the Northern cape; refurbishment has been completed, resulting into a fully-fledged theatre space in Northern Cape; construction that will commence in Limpopo with DSAC contributing R7m in 2022/23 financial year. For the Limpopo Theatre, a contractor has been appointed and will be on site by Mid-January 2024 to commence with construction. Preferred locations have been identified in Mpumalanga. Govan Mbeki LM has appointed a service provider to assess the building. In the Northwest and engagements continue with those Provinces Northwest Theatre/Mmabana Arts Centre completed a feasibility study. DSAC has included this project in the UAMP for 2024/25 until 2026/27.

(iii) CCI Masterplan: The CCI Masterplan was approved by Cabinet in August 2022. A roll-out of the implementation plan was undertaken in all 9 provinces through Information Sessions with the sector and provincial representatives. National IGR and stakeholder meetings are attended once a month to strengthen the implementation of the Key Action Programs; and DSAC reports there with all National departments. The approved CCI Masterplan has also been aligned with the ACPD Annual Performance Plan.

(iv) Outcome of the Davis Commission: Department of Sport and Recreation led by Sports Trust and Department of Arts and Culture together with BASA developed a detailed submission requesting for the inclusion of arts and culture and sport as eligible activities for public benefit consideration . Based on the submission, Schedule 9 was amended to include these activities amongst others. Sport. Arts and culture are now eligible for consideration as public benefit organisations and if approved can administer donation certificates for specific taxation exemption and tax rebates.

(v) Skills transfer/ Capacity building: Academies project implementing skills transfer project including this includes Incubator Programs in Performing Arts Institutions. Allocated budget towards Incubator and Training Programs where artists are provided with practical skills that enable them to grow their businesses changes per year as it forms part of the branches Annual Performance Plan (APP). These are run in different Performing Arts Institutions throughout the country; and also conducted by different Academies. The 2023/24 APP includes the 22 Capacity building which is budgeted at a total of R68.7m.

(d). In the 2023/2024 financial year.

(e). PESP: To date, a sum of R412 818 600 million has been transferred to the 5 implementing agencies out of the R459,2 million PESP allocation for the 2023/2024 financial year. A total of R46 381 400 remains to be disbursed to entities.

Skills Development programmes are budgeted annually and the 2023/24 budget was R 68 750 000.

Nelson Mandela Theatre Complex in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape was provided with a budget of R13m for operational costs; and R17m for infrastructure and maintenance in the Northern Cape Theatre. The Limpopo Theatre construction the DSAC contributing R7m in 2022/23 financial year.