Media Accreditation Application for the National Social Compact Convention 29 January 2020

Members of the media wishing to cover the National Social Compact Convention scheduled for 06-07 February 2020 at Saint George Hotel, Pretoria, are requested to apply for accreditation.

The National Social Convention is organised by the Department of Arts and Culture as part government efforts to foster social cohesion and nation building.

The event will be attended by representatives of government, business community, labour and civil society.

His Excellency, the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr. David Mabuza will deliver the keynote address at the Convention. 

Members of the media  are advised to submit their details by completing the attached registration form.  You are also kindly requested to verify your identification details when completing the template.

Deadline for submission of applications is Tuesday, 04 February 2020 at 12h00

For RSVPs, please contact: Madimetja Moleba, cell: 066 301 4675, email:madimetjam@dac.gov.za

Further media enquiries: contact, Sam Bopape at 082 318 5251 / matome@presidency.gov.za, or Zimasa Velaphi at 072 172 8925 / zimasav@dac.gov.za

Issued by the Department of Arts and Culture

Bids Received for DAC 10/19-20

Bids Received for DAC 10/19-20: Appointment of a curator to organise and curate The 2020 Beautiful Things Exhibition at The Graskop Gorge in Mpumalanga, March 2020.

Kindly find the attached list: RESULTS OF TENDER RECEIVED- DAC 10 19-20

Bids Received for DAC 09/19-20

Bids Received for DAC 09/19-20: Request for proposals for the Appointment Of Companies to provide events management services to The Department of Arts and Culture for the period of thirty six (36) Months.

Kindly find the attached list below: BIDS RECEIVED FOR DAC 09

Awarded tender for Tender: DAC: 04/19-20

BID NO:                       DAC: 04/19-20

Tender Description:  REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A SERVICE PROVIDER TO RENDER GARDEN SERVICE FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS FOR PREMISES OF THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

Awarded to:                 Fourdeals Commercial Cleaners

Amount:                        R 3 168 932.88

BBBEE Level:                1

Minister Mthethwa on open letter matters in the public discourse

Minister Nathi Mthethwa wishes to advise members of the press that he has noted the advocacy demonstrated by practitioners in the Cultural and Creative Industries sector in the form of open letters penned to him in recent months.

By definition, an open letter is: “A published letter of protest or appeal usually addressed to an individual but intended for the general public”.  The aim of the open letter is often meant to issue a rallying cry around a cause or objective.

Minister Mthethwa wishes to thank those who have written to him. Two open letters recently addressed to Minister Mthethwa go straight to the heart of the matters troubling players in the Arts and Culture space. These matters have already been patiently responded to in great detail in the past by the Ministry and the Department.

This Ministry wishes to place on record once more that it has been engaged for years in the process of correcting these through the passing of the two critical pieces of legislation, namely, “The Copyright Amendment Bill” and the “The Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill” which have been passed. Both pieces of legislation are before the President for assent.

Minister Mthethwa thus wishes to advise that he cannot be drawn to address each and every open letter addressed to him. In any case, the principle of the “open letter” is centred on raising awareness and where possible, for the individual or office to whom it is addressed or pertains to, to do best to remedy the situation as far as his or her authority and function allow. Minister Mthethwa has fulfilled this obligation. In this regard, any further response would be tantamount to playing to the gallery.

Regarding specific matters of allegations of unfairness in remuneration between employer and employee, the authority that has jurisdiction in this regard is the Department of Employment and Labour. Minister Mthethwa wishes to urge artists to study and evoke the “Basic Condition of Employment Act” et al in the interim, as the worker is constitutionally afforded protection and relief therein as a worker. Minister Mthethwa has previously given Ms Vatiswa Ndara this exact advice in her grievance against the employer i.e. the production company in question. He is reiterating it for the benefit of all this Ministry’s stakeholders.

Minister Mthethwa regards Ms Sibongile Mngoma’s specific allegations of “demands for kickbacks, stealing of her ideas and/or proposals” and “suppression to speak up are viewed” in a serious light. Let this be directly addressed and reported to the Ministry in order that they be dealt with accordingly. With specific reference to funding or lack thereof unfairly, Minister Mthethwa implores Ms Mngoma and any aggrieved party to furnish his office with details in order to afford these instances the necessary attention. Minister Mthethwa will thereafter take up the matter with the official(s) concerned.

Minister Mthethwa is aware that not all artists have received financial assistance from the department and/or its implementing agencies. However, the opposite is true for many other artists who have benefitted. For example, artists such as Ms Vatiswa Ndara, along with a number of cast members of “IGazi” received financial assistance when trying to bid for international recognition for the nomination of their craft. There are notable names across the Cultural and Creative Industries sectors that can be cited as having received tangible support from the Department, and this is not limited to financial support. It is unfortunate that the voices of the artists that have benefitted from the department now known as “Sports, Arts and Culture” cannot be present when criticism of “lack of support” is levelled against the Department and Minister Mthethwa as its head. This would assist in establishing a more balanced narrative in the public discourse and on the social media platforms where open letters are being published and discussed. Be that as it may, the voice of the critic is one that is valued by this Ministry because it promotes further development, advancement, and improvement.

In conclusion, Minister Mthethwa wishes to reassure once more members of the Cultural and Creative Industries not just of his sympathy and understanding, but his steadfast commitment to bringing about change in amongst others, the often deplorable instances of exploitation and lack of transformation they face. This has been demonstrated in his unwavering support for the need to change the principal legislation of 1978.

That the lawmakers of this land passed and subsequently concurred in December 2019 is a particularly proud and significant moment to this Ministry.

…ends//

Enquiries:

Ms Asanda Magaqa

Spokesperson: Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture

Mobile: 072 372 6807

Email: asandam@dac.gov.za

 

Ms Zimasa Velaphi

Chief Director: Department of Arts and Culture

Mobile: 072 172 8925

Email: zimasav@dac.gov.za

Arts and Culture to host the Social Compact Convention with various Sectors

The Department of Arts and Culture is the custodian on South Africa’s social cohesion process and plays a leading role in ensuring that the vision of the National Development Plan (NDP) of a transformed and socially cohesive society is realised. The Department of Arts and Culture will host the Social Compact Convention on the 6-7 February 2020 at Saint George Hotel as part of Social Cohesion and Nation Building Strategy. This compact represents a collective agreement between all South Africans on how to address major issues in our country through a united effort.

Despite positive strides since 1994, South African society remains divided. The privilege attached to race, class, space and gender has not yet been fully reversed. The social, psychological and geographic elements of apartheid continue to shape the lives and outlook of many South Africans.

Through the social compact; business, government, labour and civil society will agree to work together to bring about future change. It will reaffirm the importance of freedom, peace and security as well as the respect for all human rights.

The social compact is aimed at promoting national unity, cohesion and nation building. The strategic objectives of the compact are focused on inviting all sectors of the society to play a role in advancing constitutional democracy, human rights and equality. Furthermore, the compact seeks to building unity amongst South Africans, as well as with the region, continent and the international community; and encouraging healing of individuals and communities.

The social compact takes forward the National Development Plan which advocates the need for such a compact given the socio-historical divisions across society, especially along racial lines, still persist.

The NDP is clear that exclusion, and the associated poverty and lack of opportunity, undermines social cohesion in South Africa. The compact will delve into the strategies to bring the previously disadvantaged and disenfranchised into the mainstream affairs of the country and the economy.

The NDP advocates for a social contract to contribute substantially to providing the political, economic and social conditions for our long-term development. It focuses on the collective problems facing our country such as labour market policy, spatial planning, gender violence, unemployment and economic growth.

At the core of the social compact, government will work to invest more on social and economic infrastructure and expanding the social wage to the poor. Business is encouraged to take a longer term perspective by investing more, and increasing employment and training. Labour is encouraged to recognise that some wage moderation is required and efforts to raise productivity are essential.

The Department of Arts and Culture commissioned Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic reflection (MISTRA) to facilitate the social compact process through consultations and agreement on the framework and programme of action; thus to be informed by specific pillars. This process entails consultations with identified stakeholders in Government, Business, Labour, Youth, Traditional Authorities, Media and Civil Society. The specific objectives of the project are to: Provide a dialogue platform on social cohesion to various key role players; Obtain a broad consensus on the role that different sectors will play in promoting social cohesion and nation building; and obtain agreement on the spirit and the letter of the social compact and its binding force on all sectors.

Through MISTRA the Department has managed consultations with the following sectors; Business, Youth, Labour, Media, People living with disability, Traditional Leaders and Government who will form part of the Convention on the 6-7 February. These consultations were conducted in order to prepare the sectors for the Convention where a social contract will be signed.

Media enquiries: contact, Zimasa Velaphi at 072 172 8925 / zimasav@dac.gov.za ; or Minister’s spokesperson, Asanda Magaqa at 072 372 6807 / asandaM@dac.gov.za

Issued by the National Department of Arts & Culture

 

Received Bids for Tender: DAC 08/19-20

Appointment of a service provider to provide a Comprehensive Wellness Intervention Programme for The South African Cultural and Creative Practitioners on behalf of the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) for a period of three (3) years.

Kindly find the list of the bids below:

RESULTS OF TENDER RECEIVED- DAC 08 19-20

Received Bids for Tender: DAC 07/19-20

Appointment of a DAC Infrastructure Project Management Service Provider.

Kindly find the list of Received Bids below:

RESULTS OF TENDER RECEIVED- DAC 07 19-20

DAC Bursaries for Heritage Related Studies: 2020

The Department of Arts and Culture invites applications for bursaries from universities for students who wish to pursue studies in heritage related programmes.

Eligibility

• South African citizenship
• Outstanding / satisfactory academic performance (academic progress report if already at an institution)
• Field of study (heritage related)
• Financially needy
• Admission letter or proof of registration at an institution of higher learning

Fields of study

• Anthropology (including forensic anthropology)
• Archaeology (marine, forensic, etc.)
• Archives and records management
• Conservation of the built environment
• Conservation and preventive conservation
• Collections (cultural & natural) management
• Heritage resources management
• Information Science(specialise in records management)
• Museum management and curatorship
• Courses that contribute to the preservation and promotion of S.A. Living Heritage
• Sports heritage

VALUE OF THE BURSARY

• Study fees: The total amount of study fees will be covered.
• Books:  The total amount of prescribed books will be covered.
• Accommodation: R 50 000 maximum amount  (NB where applicable)
• Meals :R 18 500 maximum amount( NB where applicable)
• NB: Funds are payable directly to the higher institution of learning

Interested institutions are requested to submit their proposals, outlining the courses they offer, by no later than 15 February 2020 to Ms Reinette Stander, Deputy Director: International Conventions and Legislation, Department of Arts and Culture, e-mail:  Reinettes@dac.gov.za.

NB:  Institutions should please note that their programmes will be verified for South African Qualifications Authority compliance requirements.

Enquiries regarding the bursary applications should be directed to Ms Reinette Stander at: Tel: 083 469 2931 or by email to reinettes@dac.gov.za.

Advertised Tender: DAC 10/19-20

Appointment of a curator to organise and curate the 2020 Beautiful Things Exhibition at Graskop Gorge in Mpumalanga, March 2020. DAC10-19-20

Closing Date: 24 January 2020