Question NW445 to the Minister of Finance
08 March 2024 - NW445
Luthuli, Mr BN to ask the Minister of Finance
(1)Following his recent Budget Speech on 21 February 2024, whereafter a certain person (name and details furnished) raised a number of concerns (details furnished), what is the breakdown of the budget allocations specifically earmarked for the creative industry, including sport, arts and culture, as outlined in the specified speech; (2) how does he intend to ensure transparency and fairness in the distribution of the budget for the creative industry, addressing the concerns raised by the specified person about funding the same organisations repeatedly?
Reply:
1. Over the 2024 MTEF the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture will receive a total allocation of R18.3 billion of which R2.9 billion is allocated to recreation development and sport promotion; R1.2 billion for infrastructure programmes; R3.9 billion is allocated to cultural and creative industries; R4.2 billion for community library services and R4.2 billion for heritage promotion and preservation. Further detailed budget information can be obtained from the 2024 Estimates of National Expenditure, Vote 37: Sport, Arts and Culture.
2. The distribution of the budget is the responsibility of the Accounting Officer of the department as per PFMA section 38(2) which states that ‘the Accounting Officer is responsible for the effective, efficient, economical and transparent use of the resources of the department’. Therefore, the question on why the same organisations are repeatedly funded should be directed to the Accounting Officer of the department of Sport, Arts and Culture.