Minister Mthethwa to meet Swedish Minister Alice Bah Kuhnke for a Bi-lateral Meeting

Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa will meet Swedish Minister of Culture and Democracy Hon Alice Bah Kuhmke on Monday, 25 January 2016 at Freedom Park in Pretoria, Gauteng.

Minister Bah Kuhnke is responsible for democracy, the national minorities, civil society, the language and culture of the Sami people, discrimination, culture, media, human rights at a national level and faith communities.

Minister Nathi Mthethwa to visit Embabe Primary School in Richards Bay as part of Back to School Campaign

Arts and Culture Minister, Mr Nathi Mthethwa, will on Monday, 18 January 2016 visit the Embabe Primary School at KwaMbonambi in Richards Bay, KwaZulu Natal as part of the “Back to School Campaign” to interact with educators and learners and instil a culture of patriotism at the school. The visit also forms part  of build-up activities for the Centenary celebration of the school.

Minister Nathi Mthethwa dissolves the Board of the Pan South African Language Board

Arts and Culture Minister, Mr Nathi Mthethwa, has dissolved the board of the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB).

He has done so in terms of section 5(5A) of the Pan South African Language Board Act No.59 of 1995. Section 5(5A) allows the Minister to dissolve the Board on reasonable grounds.

Minister Mthethwa has indicated that:

• There was no common understanding between the Department and the Board as to what the strategic role of the Board should be.
• The understanding of the Board of its role and mandate was inconsistent with the legislative mandate provided by the PanSALB Act and the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999).
• The Board had difficulties in understanding or aligning to the frameworks governing the relationship between the Executive Authority and the Board which impacted on the budget vote.
• The Board did not act prudently with regard to employer-employee relations, which made PanSALB vulnerable to legal claims and compliance requirements with certain statutory obligations.
• No sufficient leadership was demonstrated by the Board throughout its term, despite certain interventions from the Department and the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture.
• The Board had difficulties in fulfilling its objects as outlined in Section 3 of the PanSALB Act and in particular, the creation of conditions for the preservation, development, promotion and respect for official and other languages in South Africa.

“I have dissolved the Board of PanSALB with immediate effect. The development of our languages and the promotion of multilingualism in South Africa need to be accelerated. The year 2016 must produce tangible results. Let us start on a clean slate and act decisively on challenges affecting PanSALB,” said Minister Mthethwa.

Minister Mthethwa with the concurrence of the National Treasury  has appointed the Board of the National Heritage Council (NHC) as the Accounting Authority for PanSALB in order to ensure the development of a turnaround strategy and its implementation without delay.

The turnaround strategy will seek to alleviate cash flow problems, to ensure a conducive environment for productivity and the fulfilment of the objects of PanSALB.

Further measures will be taken during the course of the year to ensure stability at PanSALB.

For enquiries, contact Lisa Combrinck at 082 821 4886 / LisaCo@dac.gov.za

Arts and Culture continues to conduct Master Classes under the Living Legends Legacy Programme

The Department of Arts and Culture invites members of the media to a Community Theatre Master Class under the theme, “Theatre for Development,” to be conducted by legendary Playwright Ronnie Govender and Zwelakhe Mtshaka on Saturday, 12 December 2015 at Gladstone House in East London, Eastern Cape as part of the Living Legends Master-class Programme.

Arts and Culture leads Reconciliation Month Activities

December marks Reconciliation Month in South Africa and during this month all South Africans are encouraged to use the month to reach out to one another as the country continues to work together to build a united and prosperous nation.

Arts and Culture continues to conduct Master Classes under the Living Legends Legacy Programme

The Department of Arts and Culture invites members of the media to Master Classes that will be conducted by legendary author Dr Sindiwe Magona and veteran actor Joe Mafela on 08 and 09 December 2015 respectively at the Market Theatre, Joburg.

Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi to deliver a keynote address at the Leading Women of Africa Summit and Champions Awards in Durban

Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, Deputy Arts and Culture Minister, will deliver a keynote address at the Leading Women of Africa (LWA) Summit and Champions Awards on Thursday, 03 December 2015, at the Olive Convention Centre in Durban.

Minister Nathi Mthethwa: Make the Arts your Business

Message of Condolence: Minister Nathi Mthethwa pays tribute to the late Tshepo Ngwane

28 October 2015

We have learnt with shock of the untimely passing of the renown actor, Tshepo Ngwane.

Brought up in Ermelo in Mpumalanga, he made his way to Johannesburg to embark on and consolidate his acting career.

Tshepo Ngwane was an actor who took his art seriously, immersing himself fully in the characters that he played so well. These convincing portrayals, especially in the roles of Thiza in Yizo Yizo and as Mdu Sibiya in Zone 14, made his performances seem larger than life. These productions reflected an authentic image of township life, captured the lives of young people and articulated the anxieties of people in a democratic society.

REMINDER: Minister Nathi Mthethwa to meet with stakeholders in the SA film industry

Arts and Culture Minister, Mr Nathi Mthethwa, will meet with Film Industry stakeholders to have a focused discussion on distribution and exhibition of South African film and chart a way forward on what needs be done in order to create an enabling environment where film entrepreneurs can flourish. The meeting will take place this Wednesday, 07 October 2015 at Hyatt Hotel,  Rosebank.

The film industry has proved itself as one of the vibrant, growing industries and continues to be competitive in international markets. The South African government recognizes the important role played by the film sector in nation building, promoting social cohesion, reconciliation and supporting economic growth and job creation. Members of the media are invited.

The meeting is scheduled as follows:

Date: 07 October 2015

Time: 09:00

Venue: Hyatt Hotel, 191 Oxford Road, Rosebank, JHB

RSVP: Baile Maunye: 071 047 6770/012 441 3639  BaileM@dac.gov.za

Media enquiries: Lisa Combrinck at 082 821 4886 or LisaC@dac.gov.za

Issued by the Department of Arts & Culture