Arts & Culture Strategic Planning Workshop: preparations

Meeting report

Upcoming Strategic Planning Workshop
The Committee Secretary, Ms Bulelwa Madikane, informed the Committee that the Department had not yet submitted any Report to the Committee because it was awaiting Cabinet approval.
 
The Committee said that the procedure the Department was following was incorrect and that it should have occurred in the reverse. Members were concerned by the Departments’ indifference to the salient need for a strategic planning workshop to be held as a matter of urgency.
 
The Chairperson confirmed that nothing would deter the Committee’s functioning and that the workshop would still be held.

Ms D Van der Walt (DA) made an urgent appeal for an adequate workshop to be held.

Mr S Opperman (DA) expressed concern at the lack of co-operation received from the Department.

Ms M Mdlalose (NADECO) stated that arts and culture was always her passion and that the Departments’ behaviour was unacceptable.
 
Mr C Gololo (ANC) mentioned that the relationship between other Portfolio Committees and their designated governmental departments were superlative, and irrespective of that, he would always have a passion for the arts.

Ms Van der Walt requested the Chairperson to exercise the Committee’s oversight function and summons the Department to appear before it. She suggested that the Chairperson should summons the Minister of Arts and Culture as well as the Director-General (DG) of the Department and discuss committee-department relationships and performance.

The Committee discussed the agenda and logistical arrangements for the workshop such as which guest speakers should be invited, how long the workshop would run and the date of the workshop. It was decided that the workshop would take place on 26 March 2008 at the Cape Town Lodge.

The meeting was adjourned.