Report of the Portfolio Committee on Arts, Culture, Science and Technology on the DACST 2001/02 Annual Report, dated 23 September 2003:
The Portfolio Committee on Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, having considered the 2001/02 Annual Report of the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, referred to it, reports as follows:
INTRODUCTION The report under review will be examined in the context of the combined department of DACST as opposed to two separate depar/tments of Arts and Culture on the one-hand and Science and Technology on the other.
Separate programmes and sub-programmes of the departments will be reviewed nonetheless, to provide for easy read and logical analysis.
ARTS & CULTURE A programme aimed at budding musicians was developed but there has not been sufficient follow through to monitor the impact it has had on musicians and the broader cultural constituencies it has targeted.
In addition, the craft industry has been supported, leading to SA’s showcasing of its craft at the WSSD at Ubuntu Village. The Portfolio Committee feels that more visibility of the department: Arts & Culture needs to be ensured in order to sustain this industry and the livelihoods of ordinary women and men of this sector.
The PC is further of the opinion that the national craft development strategy and the craft export strategy will have to be accelerated in order to ensure a niche for the crafters and further development of the craft SMME’s.
Given the latest trends in fashion and designing, the proposed glass-bead manufacturing facility holds great hope for the cultural industry. Added to this though must be the promotion of Black Economic Empowerment. This is absolutely critical in the aftermath of the passage of the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Bill. A point needs to be made that the awarding of contracts to consultancies or NGO’s that implement poverty alleviation needs to mirror the BEE imperatives. We need details as to whether this is happening or who benefits.
We need regular briefings on the success or otherwise of the implementation of the strategy document regarding the three-sphere government funding in the area of performing arts.
The principle of parity of esteem for the languages of SA and movement beyond the pilot study of the Telephone Interpreting Service for South Africa (TISSA) is absolutely imperative as the country braces itself for ten years of freedom and democracy.
Continuing the theme of languages, the Human Languages Technologies (HLT) project of the department which will make it possible for human beings to interact with computers using human language and speech (p.18) thereby allowing for use by illiterate people and from applications in education and to e-governance and e-commerce needs a thorough evaluation for progress to be made.
While section 6 (2) of the constitution seeks to elevate the status and advance the use of African languages, the delay in the bills being assented to and signed by the President because of paucity of capacity in translation services of the department, means a contradiction of the letter and spirit of S.6 (2) as well as parity of esteem and their equitable treatment. This delay often occurs when a particular bill ought to be translated from either English or Afrikaans to another African language.
Heritage forms an integral part of the nation’s socio-cultural life. In particular the department needs to be commended for initiating a five-year project beginning in the 2002/2003 financial year to collect indigenous music. In this regard the Portfolio Committee seeks further clarity on the success or otherwise on the pilot project in the Eastern Cape on the above.
The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) informed the PC in August 2002 that it sought to present an amendment on the National Heritage Resources Act, (Act No 25 of 1999) to provide for the protection and preservation of heritage objects in the Provinces.
No such amendment has been brought to the PC more than a year later and not all Provinces have Provincial Heritage Resources Agencies. (PRHAS)
The South African Geographic Names Council cannot boast establishment of Provincial Committees either. The need to do so is an imperative one and the department must execute its mandate accordingly, given the need to rename a lot of areas around the country.
A lot has been achieved in the areas of national archives and heraldry. However, many in our country are still ignorant of the significance and purport of these achievements. More needs to be done through libraries, community centres and others to promote public awareness about these successes.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND META INFORMATION While cognisance is taken of the existence of various technology diffusion programmes like Godisa, Tshumisano and the rest the department is urged to take urgent steps to contribute towards addressing historical distortions in the nation’s human resources in science and technology. More details are nonetheless required on incubators than stated in the report.
In addition, it must commit to mobilising support for innovation in the context of economic growth and social development through appropriate incentives and encourage long-term strategic research and development.
The Portfolio Committee further calls for the maintenance of the value of the grants against depreciation to Science Councils and urges the department to conduct urgent review of all science councils in line with national development imperatives and transformation, and make this available to the PC.
The bill that is meant to turn FEST into a statutory body must be fastracked in order to deliver on PUSET objectives.
Since the publication of this report the department has moved with speed to roll out the National Biotechnology strategy in it’s various phases. However, a parallel process of the development of the ethics regime in the Biotech sphere remains a crucial element of technological innovation.
CORPORATE SERVICES While the department acknowledges the Human Resource component as a change agent there is no person (s) with disability, out of 10 upgraded posts between 1 April and 31 March 2002, who has been absorbed in an upgraded post.
More training and sensitivity is needed in this sector. This anomaly is clear in the total absence of training for disabled employees during the aforementioned period. In addition more effort must be made in terms of HR development as well as the change of the culture of social outlook in Science and Technology.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT While the previous financial year indicates a significant drop in the actual under spend in the subsequent financial year, the PC wishes to reiterate that it favours zero tolerance for under spending, especially in such important areas as the poverty alleviation programmes.
While the report of the auditor-general expresses a fairly positive opinion about its audit, it must be emphasised that institutional support is crucial for the implementation of departmental programmes, subject to its strategic plans and the PFMA.
CONCLUSION The department further needs to finalise its report on cases referred to the Special Investigation Unit (SIU). The PC commends this report to Parliament, subject to the comments made.