Report of the Portfolio Committee on
Arts and Culture on the Budget of the Department of Arts and Culture, Vote 14,
dated 25 May 2011
The Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture, having considered the
Budget of the Department of Arts and Culture, reports as follows:
1. Introduction
The Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture held a meeting with the Department
of Arts and Culture on 13 April 2011 to create an opportunity for the Committee
to assess whether the Department would be able to implement its programme for the
2011/12 financial year. The Department presented its programme to the
Committee, at a meeting held on 8 February 2011. The meeting also afforded the
Committee an opportunity to determine the extent of the support the Department
needed to execute its mandate.
For this purpose the Committee invited four entities to be part of the
proceedings and deliberations.
2. Entities invited
The Committee invited the National Heritage Council (NHC) which was represented by its Chief
Executive Officer, Advocate S Mancotywa. The National Arts Council (NAC) was represented by its Chief
Executive Officer, Ms A Lithebe and Chief Finance Officer, Mr S Letsoalo. Ms B
Khumalo, Chief Finance Officer; Ms Z Fakier, Acting Chief Finance Officer; Ms
Jansen, Senior Finance Officer and Ms L Mema, Manager, represented the South
African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA).
Mr A Mokoena, Chief Finance Officer, represented the State Theatre.
These entities represent some of the major genres in the arts, culture
and heritage sectors.
3. Presentation by the Department
The Acting Director General, Ms V Buduza, as a prelude to the
presentation of the Budget, told members that to achieve to deliver on the
mandate of the Department – which is to
develop and preserve South African
Culture - the Budget was divided into six programmes as follows:
Programme 1: Administration –
Which provides leadership, management and support functions of the Department
Programme 2: Performing Arts – Promote the Performing Arts
Programme 3: National Language Service – Develop and promote the
official languages of
Programme 4: Cultural Development – Promote and develop South African
Arts and Culture
Programme 5: Heritage Promotion – Provide policy, legislation, and
strategic direction for identifying, conserving and promoting cultural heritage
Programme 6: National Archives and Library Services – Facilitate full
and open access to the archival and information resources of
The Acting Director General reported that in November 2010, the
Department had held a Strategic Planning Session which enabled the Department
to identify key Departmental priorities. Further, that the exercise resulted in
the restructuring of some programmes. In line with the changes, the National
Film and Video Foundation was now located within programme 2. The Heraldic
Services moved to programme 5 while the South African Geographic Names Council
was now a sub-programme whereas in the previous financial year it was a line
item under programme 5. She also informed the Committee that the Capital Works
Programme was now spread over 3 programmes, namely – Performing Arts, Heritage
Promotion and National Archives and Library Services. In the past the programme
resided only under programme 5, Heritage Promotion.
In the summary of the Department’s programmes over the Medium Term
Expenditure Framework, the Acting Director General, highlighted that the Budget
would see a growth of 6 per cent – moving from R 2 441 245 billion to R 2 784
743 billion. The Acting Director General reported that, from the total
allocation to the Department only 16 per cent would be administered by the
Department while 84 per cent would be spent outside the Department - through transfers
to entities. She also reported that compensation of employees; goods and
services; machinery and equipment; capital works and household (projects) would
be the main expenditure areas both inside and outside the Department.
The table below shows the growth of each programme
over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF):
Budget Summary per Financial
Year
|
Programme |
2010/11 |
2011/12 |
2012/13 |
2013/14 |
|
|
R’000 |
R’000 |
R’000 |
R’000 |
|
Administration |
178,026 |
178,757 |
193,029 |
206,304 |
|
Performing Arts |
450,919 |
549,379 |
606,855 |
655,850 |
|
Nat Lang Services |
93,974 |
101,570 |
105,155 |
111,125 |
|
Cult Development |
235,948 |
180,717 |
188,516 |
199,126 |
|
Heritage Promotion |
845,352 |
763,702 |
811,627 |
852,146 |
|
Nat Archives & Library Services |
637,026 |
694,452 |
719,935 |
760,192 |
|
Grand Total |
2,441,245 |
2,468,577 |
2,625,117 |
2,784,743 |
The following figures
constitute the difference between what was allocated in 2010/11 and what is
allocated in 2011/12 financial years.
·
R5.4
million in 2011/12, R5.6 million in 2012/13 and R5.7 million in 2013/14 to
improve conditions of services in the arts and culture sector.
·
R33.5
million, in 2011/12, R42.8 in 2012/13 and R58.9 million in 2013/14 for the transfer
to the National Film and Video Foundation to develop the local film industry
and create jobs.
·
R10
million in 2011/12, R13 million in 2012/13 and R16 million in 2013/14 for
municipalities and accommodation charges.
·
R11.5
million in 2011/12, R12 million in 2012/13 and R13 million in 2013/14 for
Institutional support and capacity building for the National Library of South
Africa and South African Library for the blind.
·
R5
million in 2011/12, R6.8 million in 2012/13 and R7.6 million in 2013/14 for
operational costs of the
Bursaries for heritage studies has an additional
allocation of R1.5 million in 2011/12, R3 million in 2012/13 and R4.5 million
in 2013/14.
·
The Department
continues to upgrade all its public entities, and has allocated R455.6 million
in 2011/12, R483 million in 2012/13 and R509.5 million in 2013/14 respectively.
4. Inputs by entities
Advocate Mancotywa, on behalf of the National Heritage Council (NHC),
welcomed the Budget and noted the Budget cuts in government generally. He
stressed though that these cuts put additional pressure on the NHC, considering
that the
Ms Lithebe from the National Arts Council (NAC) also welcomed the
Budget. She indicated that there were real dynamics and pressures in supporting
the 7 sectors that it was currently involved in. She reported that although the
entity welcomed the vision and the drive of the Minister for arts, it still had
R 51 million to disburse nationally. For that reason it would continue to plead
for an improvement in its allocation.
Mr Mokoena, representing the State Theatre indicated that the State
Theatre was in need of extra funds as only 15 per cent of the funds it received
went to core activities. He mentioned that the State Theatre was losing income
through decreased rentals. He alluded to forming partnerships with producers
but added that this meant capital injection. In conclusion, he indicated that
the entity appreciated the grant but registered an appeal that the allocation
be improved.
Ms Khumalo, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) from the South African
Heritage Resource Agency (SAHRA) welcomed the allocation. She informed the
Committee that sixty per cent of the allocation went to compensation while only
40 per cent was for operations. She also said that they had gone through a
process of combing the Act with a
view to costing it, so that their mandate was not compromised. She appreciated
the support from the Department, adding that they would appreciate it if more
resources are allocated.
5. Deliberations
During the deliberations the Committee was informed
that the process of appointing a Director General was completed and by the end
of May 2011, the Department would have a new Director General. The Committee
was also informed that the Department had a plan to fill all vacant positions.
Hon. J Phaahla, Deputy Minister, told members that they
were
continuously looking at the issue of efficiency in the Department which
required alignment of functions to the mandate of the Department. He also
indicated that resources would go in line with priorities, emphasising also
that they would be guided by the work that had been done before. He further
hinted at possible rationalisation, merging of some institutions which might
necessitate change in legislation.
Hon. P Mashatile, Minister, informed the members that April (month) had
been declared Freedom Month by Cabinet and celebrations would be held every year
in
Dr Jokweni informed the Committee that the South African Languages Bill
was being fine-tuned and the target date for submission to Cabinet was April 2011.
Regarding the “investing in culture programme”, the Committee was informed that
a task team had been established to look into the programme all over again.
The Acting Director General indicated that they would look into the
issue of Noria Mabasa and promised to come back to the Committee on the matter.
Advocate Mancotywa advocated some form of a social compact between the Department
and Entities. He also raised the issue of the silence of the White Paper on the
role of civil society and implored the Department to look into this. He
expressed concern at what he termed ‘heritage that was in private hands’. He
was aggrieved by the non linkage of heritage to land. He also decried the
apparent bias in favour of culture as opposed to heritage. He argued for a
change of the national lottery model.
Hon. Sunduza, in summing up the discussions, reiterated the issue of
income generation by heritage institutions. She also challenged the Minister
and the Acting Director General to prioritize people with disabilities. Hon. Sunduza
emphasized the issue of linking up with other Departments, notably the
Department of Sport; Education; Tourism and International Relations. In
relation to the latter, she expressed the hope that international cultural
treaties did not disadvantage
6. Conclusion
The Portfolio Committee expressed appreciation for
what the Department had presented. The Committee also appreciated the
contribution and inputs made by the entities present.
The Committee recommends
that the House adopt the budget vote of the
Department of Arts and
Culture.
Report to be considered.