In 2020/21, as part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus package, the National Library of South Africa (NLSA) was allocated an amount of R60 million in response to the job losses that came because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Half of the amount, R30 million was allocated to the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa (NARSSA) for the digitisation of archival records and the remaining R30 million to NLSA for the digitization of newspapers and periodicals. The allocation was mainly to be used towards the appointment of 326 unemployed youth and the procurement of digitisation equipment. As a result, 453 youth benefited from the project which commenced in November 2020 to August 2022.
Equipment such as scanners for different formats of records, film cleaning equipment, computers etc. were procured to digitise paper and audio-visual materials.
Since November 2020 until 31 March 2022, the employed interns that were placed at NLSA digitised the following:
ITEM |
NUMBER |
Number of images digitised |
206 050 |
Number of items converted using Optical Character Recognition |
192 979 |
Number of items bound and repaired |
10 649 |
Number of items with metadata added |
165 478 |
At the National Archives, the interns worked on the following, and it should be noted that the formats that were digitised are unique, and the digitisation equipment was not received on time, however preparatory work was conducted prior the delivery of the equipment:
ITEM |
NUMBER |
Number of pages digitised |
72 811 |
Number of photographs digitised |
78 333 |
Number of Treason Trial dictabelts digitised |
727 |
Number of TRC Audio tapes digitised |
911 |
Number of items with metadata added |
28 060 |
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION NO. 383
INKOSI B N LUTHULI (IFP) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF SPORT, ARTS AND CULTURE
Whether, in view of the controversy with different organisations in the arts and provincial orchestras communiting that there has been a lack of transparency around the establishment and the budget of the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra, with the funding to be administered by the National Arts Council of South Africa, he will provide (a) an itemised list of expenditure and (b) details on how it will be monitored and distributed. NO3306E
REPLY
Note that eighty percent of the above total amount which is R41 557 256 has already been transferred as grant to the National Orchestra and R10 389 314 is to be transferred after the submission of reports. As per the contract. seventy-five per cent should be spent on programming while the balance on the administration. In line with the concept document, the National orchestra should ensure that these resources are allocated appropriately for national and international tours, skills development and for supporting the development of orchestral activities mainly to benefit the previously disadvantaged provinces.
In as far as the reporting or accounting of the monies is concerned, there are serious contractual obligations which should be adhered to, and this include the submission of detailed financial expenditures with audited financial statements signed by a registered accounting firm. Any money that has not been utilised by 2023/2024 financial year would have to be returned back to the NAC.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION NO. 403
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30 AUGUST 2022: INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 28 - 2022
QUESTION 403: MR. A ZONDI (ANC) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF SPORT, ARTS AND CULTURE:
How, is his department leveraging digital economy, given that digitisation and technology opportunities have created new opportunities for creative artists to leverage platforms to promote their creative work and earn from it.
REPLY
At present, the Department has a 3-year contract with
Ditshego Media (PTY) LTD ending in 2023/24.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION 404-2022
ORAL REPLY
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 28–2022, DATE OF PUBLICATION 30 AUGUST 2022:
Ms V P Malomane (ANC) to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture;
(1) How is his department working with creative artists and traditional authorities to promote arts and culture that plays a critical role in moulding a society’s values, principles, diverse identities and cultures, as part of nation building;
(2) Whether his department is creating art centres for children to be involved in arts, if not, why not; if so what are the relevant details? NO3247
REPLY:
The Department has adopted a strategy for the development of Community Arts Centres called Provincial Community Arts Development Programmes, which is a programme that supports provinces to develop and implement their own community arts development programmes to position and organize the community arts sector to support the overarching government objectives of access and participation in the arts by all South Africans, including school going and out of school children. Children arts programmes across all genres are offered in all community arts centres but we do not have centres that cater only for the children.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION NO. 405-2022
ORAL REPLY
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO.28–2022, DATE OF PUBLICATION 30 AUGUST 2022
MS D P SIBIYA (ANC) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF SPORT, ARTS AND CULTURE:
What (a) mechanism is his department using to ensure that the Municipalities include sport infrastructure maintenance and development in their plans, and (b) measures are in place to ensure the Municipalities comply with the regulations of the municipal infrastructure grant allocated for sport facilities
Reply
a) The provision and maintenance of Sport and recreation facilities is the constitutional responsibility of Local Government. Be that as it may, through the intervention of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the Sport and Recreation Norms and Standards volume 1 provides guidelines for municipalities to maintain and safeguard their Sport and recreation facilities. Further to the guidelines during Municipal Infrastructure Grant ring-renfed allocation, Municipalities are required to demonstrate that they will maintain the facilities by confirming the budget for maintenance in their business plans for three years.
b) Measures are in place to ensure that Municipalities comply with regulations, in terms of Sport and Recreation facilities, Municipalities must ensure that the facilities constructed are in compliance with the norms and standards. During implementation phase, Municipalities present their designs to the Department to confirm and approve them before construction. Progress meetings are conducted and where construction has started, site visits are conducted. On a monthly basis, municipalities are required to submit the monthly progress reports.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION NO. 433 - 2022
FOR ORAL REPLY
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30 AUGUST 2022 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO.28- 2022)
“Mr. B S Madlingozi (EFF) to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture:”
REPLY:
(1). As part of transforming our heritage landscape, the Department has a responsibility to introduce monuments that show our transition from apartheid to democracy. This is in the light of the fact that one of the key mandates of the Department is to promote nation building and social cohesion. National symbols, especially the national flag, expresses the country’s common identity which is pivotal to building a common national identity and advancing unity.
(2). Transforming our heritage landscape post 1994 does not make the plight of our creatives any less important. Both these matters are important and are given the necessary attention by the Department.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION NO. 460-2022
FOR ORAL REPLY
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 28-2022 DATE OF PUBLICATION 30 AUGUST 2022
“Mr T W Mhlongo (DA) to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture”
Whether the National Arts Council of South Africa met with him to discuss the alleged proposed appointment of Mr Tshepo Mashiane to the position of Programme Manager: Capacity Building, after the specified person was told that his appointment had been irregular more than a week after he was appointed to the specified position; if not; has such meeting been scheduled; if so, what are the relevant details? NO3305E
REPLY:
I had a meeting with the Council of the National Arts Council after the reported irregularities and the alleged involvement of Council members in the process leading to the appointment of Mr Mashiane. The purpose of the meeting was to seek clarity from Council on the report as submitted to the me by the Chairperson of Council. I am not involved in staff appointment matters of the National Arts Council or any other entity of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION NO. 461
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30 AUGUST 2022: INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 28 - 2022
MRS V VAN DYK (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF SPORT, ARTS AND CULTURE.
Whether he will furnish Mrs V van Dyk with a copy of the list of all the individuals that participated in the specified public meetings. NO3306E
REPLY