The Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashatile, and the Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Dr Joe Phaahla, today addressed the Arts and Culture Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on the department’s annual report. The department got an unqualified audit report for the 2009/10 financial year.
Mashatile told the Committee that Arts and Culture has the potential to be a major contributor to the economy and to job creation. “It is the way that we re-organise ourselves as the Department of Arts and Culture that will unleash the potential of the Arts to contribute to economic growth and the creation of jobs.”
“We need to move to a situation where the department is not seen as an events management department. We need to reposition ourselves. ” Mashatile said. He told the Committee that the Technical Services alone contributes more than R8 billion to the economy.
He said the department will also focus on building the necessary skills base to grow and develop the creative industries, through the establishment of a National Skills Academy for the Arts. Mashatile pledged to work closely with the creative industries to achieve the department’s mandate.
In response to concerns around Robben Island, Mashatile said that Robben Island Museum needs a turnaround strategy. “We shall turn it around and we will give ourselves timelines to do this,” he said.
He said there is a need to avoid a situation where tourists want to visit this World Heritage site and find that there are no boats to take them there. He urged the Portfolio Committee to continue its robust oversight on the department.
The Portfolio Committee criticised the department for its high vacancy rate which stands at 26%. The Committee also raised concerns that there were too many people in acting positions in the department. Mashatile assured the Committee that all senior management and critical positions within the department will be filled by the end of the 2010/11 financial year.
“Do not praise us unless we deserve it. Criticise us harshly! In this way, together we can get the programmes right. We will also ensure that there will be no one in an acting position by the end of this financial year.” Mashatile said.
For more information contact:
Percy Mthimkhulu
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Lisa Combrink
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