MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON ARTS AND CULTURE

30 May 2006

14:00-17:00

 

ACTING CHAIPERSON: Mr. MR Sonto

SECRETARY:                Ms TR Cawe

AGENDA

 

1.       Discussing a Business plan in line with the Committee’s Budget for 2006/07

2.       Discussing the programme of the Committee for May –June 2006

3.       Consideration and adoption of the Budget Vote process – Budget Hearings;

4.       Adoption of minute

5.       Announcements/ Invitations

 

African National Congress

Mr. KK Khumalo

Mr. P Maluleke

Ms ND Mbombo

Ms DM Ramodibe

Mr. MR Sonto                                                                               

Prince BZ Zulu

Ms P Tshwete                                          

Democratic Alliance                          

Mrs. D Van der Walt

Minority Front

Mr. RB Bhoola

 

 

Officials in attendance

Mr. S Bokaba – Chairman Association of professional Orchestras of South Africa

Mr. A Sekobi – Artistic Director  & Acting Chief Executive Officer

Ms K Pienaar – Chief Executive Officer

Mr. J Marillier – Freedom Park, Parliamentary Liason Officer

Ms T Venter Parliamentary Monitoring Group, Monitor

 

 

The Acting Chairperson welcomed members and allowed the Association of Professionals Orchestras representative Mr. Bokaba to brief the Committee.

 

  1. Association of Professional Orchestras of South Africa

Mr. Bokaba pleaded with the Committee to solicit funding from the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) for the JPO. He mentioned that the Johannesburg Philemonic orchestra is not fully funded by the DAC although Cape Philharmonic and KZN receive R3, 77 million each from the DAC.  The JPO was also informed that a similar amount was allocated to JPO and later diverted to Abdullar Ebrahim’s jazz Orchestra.

 

The JPO is owned by the Musicians. The JPO work closely which SAMET that was founded to provide music education to children in disadvantaged areas.  It has been funded largely by the private sector. Due to financial constraints the JPO is not a permanent city orchestra. On his closing note Mr. Bokaba highlighted that the orchestra only operate five seasons, if they can be fully funded they can operate full time to meet the demand. 

 

1.1 Questions and Comments

Members asked the JPO whether they received funding from the DAC directly and how much did they receive. It was noted that only few provinces were mentioned in the presentation, and members wanted to know why other provinces were not mentioned for the Performer Development Initiative project. The presenter was also asked to inform the Committee where he heard about the diversion of funds, whether this was communicated to the JPO officially. Members also asked if there was a policy on funding orchestras. 

 

1.2   Responses

Mr. Bokaba responded that the JPO has to apply for funding through the National Arts Council and they had applied for R4 million but received only R30 000.  The reasons they were given was that the NAC is operating on a limited budget. The KZN is not the Section 21 Company.

 

In responding to the diversion he mentioned that he was informed by a contact within the NAC and DAC.

 

Mr. Bokaba was not sure about the policy for funding Orchestras.  He further explained that by sharing he meant the sharing of resources to strengthen the orchestras.

 

He further mentioned that most orchestras were closed in 2000 and the JPO regrouped together as they were retrenched. The KZN did not close at all and the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra closed and soon reopened.  

 

The Committee thanked the presenter and asked if the Committee could be provided with a Budget analysis and financial statement

  1. South African State Theatre

In order to fast track transformation and redress past imbalances, the State Theatre has conceived development, advancement and empowerment programmes, entitled 52 Seasons and Residency Program. The 52 projects were officially launched in 2002. During this period 52 artistic works were performed in the Momentum Theatre. The works were selected from seven provinces of the country. Each production was given two weeks of development.

 

Mr. Sekobi mentioned that the DAC is only funding the operations of the theatre. The State Theatre received R2.3 million from National Lottery to rebrand the theatre. They felt that by doing the rebranding it would be inclusive of all the people and they must know that it’s their own theatre.

 

He further explained that the aim of the theatre is to showcase diverse and quality programmes; developing and creating space for emerging artists, producers, audiences and technicians; developing new content; maintaining technical excellence and offering a safe and fulfilling experience.

 

The CFO explained the unqualified audit report with 4 matters of emphasis that have been corrected.

 

 

 

Questions and comments

 

The Members wanted to know how many board members do they have and how are they remunerated. They also expressed concern about the amount paid for the auditors and the availability of the audit report as well as the financial statement of the Auditor-General. Members wanted to know how the State Theatre is going to cover the deficit spending.

 

It was mentioned that some people who were operating from the State Theatre were complaining about the shabby places allocated to them.

 

Responses

 

The interest the State Theatre received is from a fixed deposit at ABSA Bank. They responded that they have eight official Board Members and hold three meetings every year, which are paid for by the theatre.

 

3. Adoption of the budget Hearings

 

Members requested to be given enough time to look at the report and forward their amendments to the Secretary to effect change.

  

 4. Minutes

 

Minutes of the meeting were adopted with changes.

 

The Chairperson thanked members and the meeting adjourned at 16:40

 

The next meeting is scheduled for 06 June 2006.