Public Protector steps in to mediate artists, NAC impasse over ‘misappropriated’ funds
Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has stepped in to mediate the impasses between South African artists and the National Arts Council (NAC).
The artists have been staging a sit-in at the NAC office in Johannesburg since the beginning of March over alleged maladministration of funds.
They claim the money allocated for artists through the R300 million Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme has disappeared.
Following a public outcry, Mkhwebane and Deputy Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka met with Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa, members of the council led by acting Chairperson Princess Celenhle Dlamini last week.
A separate meeting was held with the artists on Friday.
“I think all issues of the monies which might have been misappropriated, we are not sure but that will be revealed by the investigation, but that will be the part that we’ll have to check if there’s monies that were paid, and who was paid and how much was paid and what process was followed because that needs to be looked into,” Mkhwebane told the disgruntled artists.
During the two meetings Mkhwebane raised concerns about a June 2020 report dealing with governance issues at the council.
She said the council would not be in such a predicament had it implemented the remedial action in the report.
“We will sit both sides around the table in an Alternative Dispute Resolution session to tackle the issue of undue delays to disburse funds and questions around lack of transparency in the NAC processes,” Mkhwebane added.
The artists are expected to make a written submission to the Public Protector’s office before another dispute resolution session can be held.
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