The Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture is disappointed at the continued disregard of Committee meetings by Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashatile and his deputy. This continued disregard of Committee meetings is particularly frustrating taking into consideration the Auditor-General’s report regarding persistent problems within the department and entities reporting to it.
The Auditor-General highlighted that six entities reporting to the department had regressed in terms of the 2011/12 audit findings as compared to 2010/11 financial year. This included a disclaimer audit opinion for the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), a qualified audit opinion for Pan South African Languages Board (PanSALB) as well as the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State (PACKOFS).
The Committee is of the opinion that the Minister or his deputy should have prioritised attendance of the meeting, especially considering that the Committee is currently undergoing a process of review of the department’s 2011/12 annual report which forms part of the finalisation of the Budget Review and Recommendation Report (BRRR). “It is thus worrying that the Minister or the Deputy Minister or the Director-General did not see it fitting to attend such an important meeting,” said Chairperson of the Committee, Ms Thandile Sunduza. The Committee is concerned that this is not the only time that the Minister and Deputy Minister did not attend crucial meetings of Committee.
Members of the Portfolio Committee highlighted to the delegation, led by Chief Operating Officer, Ms Veliswa Baduza that the Auditor-General report had raised serious concerns and they expected the political head and the Director-General to account. “I feel that we as the Committee are being undermined by the Ministry, especially when you take into consideration that there are recurring problems within the department and its entities that need urgent attention,” Ms Sunduza said.
Committee member, Mr Niekie van den Berg cautioned that the continuing problems within the department needed to stop and that the Minister, as the political head, was supposed to appear as he was politically responsible to ensure that the department did perform. “It’s unfortunate that the only time we see the Minister is when he is giving speeches in Parliament and on TV,” said Mr Van den Berg.
Mr Zoyisile Ntapane, another member of the Committee, acknowledged the attendance of the delegation but emphasised that the Committee had expected the Minister to clarify some of the problems highlighted in the annual report. “We know that you took time to fly to Cape Town, but I would like to agree with the Members of Parliament that we postpone the meeting and allow the Minister to account to the Committee about these recurring concerns,” said Mr Ntapane.
The Committee unanimously decided to send the delegation back and postpone the meeting to allow either the Minister or the Deputy Minister, accompanied by the Director-General to appear before the Committee.
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Arts and Culture Committee 'unhappy' with Minister Paul Mashatile and his deputy
