Parliament of South Africa

09/21/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/21/2024 17:04

Media Statement: Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture Sends Department Packing for Ill Preparedness

Parliament, Saturday, 21 September 2024 - The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture, Mr Joe McGluwa, said the incident that took place yesterday where the committee sent the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture back on account of ill preparedness was unfortunate but necessary.

Mr McGluwa, said it was against the spirit of accountability that the department sent a presentation to the committee earlier in the week and presented something else yesterday when it appeared to brief the committee on its performance on the 1st quarter of the 2024/25 financial year.

The committee needed to set an example from the onset early in its term of office. It was unfortunate that the departmental officials had to be sent back on account of inconsistencies in their own presentation and what they claimed to be a correct reflection of their performance.

"We do not take kindly to this kind of behaviour as it is tantamount to fraud and misleading the legislators who in the end must motivate for the budget of this department. We are not about to compromise on accountability; in fact, the committee is visiting some of the projects where a huge amount of money had been reportedly spent in the first week of October with a tiny percentage of progress," said Mr McGluwa.

"We are doing so and where we will have to influence the budget, we will do so and where we have to stop programmes we will not shy away from our responsibility in holding the department accountable " continued Mr McGluwa.

Mr McGluwa said sending the department back was a painful experience for him but indeed a step in the right direction. He said the committee will do this again if misrepresentation of facts happens. "This committee is not about to go soft on its responsibility of playing the oversight role, no matter what and who is involved," Mr McGluwa emphasised.

The committee demanded that an explanation of how different information could be submitted. Mr McGluwa said committee members were responsible public representatives, and that how the money of government is spent should be accounted for.

The committee will undertake an official oversight visit to governmental projects that include Sarah Baartman Heritage site in the Eastern Cape and other related entities that fall within the committee's portfolio. "We will not compromise on our oversight role whoever is involved, our people must experience service delivery beyond the paper presentation," Mr McGluwa added.

The committee is also waiting patiently for a joint report from the Minister of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, and the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture on the alleged mismanagement of funds.

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON SPORTS, ARTS AND CULTURE, MR JOE MCGLUWA.

For media inquiries or interviews with the leader of the delegation, please contact the NCOP Delegation's Media Officer:

Name: Mr Sibongile Maputi
Cell: 081 052 6060
Email: [email protected]