The Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture has voiced concerns with the lack of clear remedial commitments in the turnaround strategy presented by PanSALB to the Committee on Tuesday, 1 November 2011.
PanSALB was invited by the Committee to present a turnaround strategy that will address the financial, human resource and legal problems of PanSALB.
Members of the Committee were disappointed with the lack of specifics, mechanisms and timelines on how and when PanSALB plans to solve the problems of the organisation. The Committee expected to get direct commitments from PanSALB that would strengthen governance in the organisation. These are commitments that would show the Committee that PanSALB will be able to function effectively and continue to perform its mandate of delivering services to the people of South Africa.
The Committee has noted that PanSALB has misused a lot of public funds and the Committee is trying its best to assist PanSALB to get out of its current situation. Another disturbing factor that the Committee noted was the Deputy CEO of PanSALB, Mr Chris Swepu, likening the Committee to a “kangaroo court”. It noted with concern that there was an agreement between PanSALB and an external legal firm, when the organisation had an internal legal team and the office of the State Attorney at their disposal.
Members of the Committee plan to sit down with the Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashatile, to look at how best to deal with the core of PanSALB’s problems and proposals to end the use of consultants by the Language Board when there were employees hired to perform those exact services.
For media inquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, contact:
Faith Kwaza (Ms) Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: +27 72 122 0371
Tel: +27 21 403 8062
E-mail: fkwaza@parliament.gov.za
Members of Parliament not pleased with PanSALB’s turnaround strategy
