Question NW524 to the Minister of Arts and Culture

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11 April 2016 - NW524

Profile picture: Grootboom, Mr GA

Grootboom, Mr GA to ask the Minister of Arts and Culture

(1).With reference to his dissolution of the board of the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) in January 2016, (a) why did he appoint the National Heritage Council as the caretaker body of PanSALB and (b) on what basis was appointment made?

Reply:

1(a). I was wary of allowing the current CEO of PanSALB to act as both the Accounting Officer and Accounting Authority since he was fairly new to the job and could be overwhelmed with work. The Department is trying to avoid similar challenges that occurred in the past when the former caretaker CEO acted as the Accounting Authority

(b). The basis for the appointment was made in terms of section 49 (3) of the Public Finance Management Act, as the National Heritage Council is one of the public entities reporting to me as the Executive Authority. We proceeded because initially we received concurrence from National Treasury, but later the National Treasury withdrew the advice they gave me, immediately thereafter the National Heritage Council was withdrawn, I realised that PANSALB is a constitutional entity, and is not part of the entities listed by the PFMA, therefore it cannot be governed under those rules.

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