Is government arts funding falling apart?
by Kresta Tyler Johnson
'In a year when South Africans are generally focused on celebrations of the past decade and the cultural achievements that have taken place, a crucial government organisation is on the verge of collapse. The National Arts Council, (NAC) has been in turmoil since the appointment of Dr. Gomolemo Mokae as the board chairman last year and the accusations he has subsequently levelled at his fellow board members.
Chief executive Doreen Nteta, chief financial officer Kiran Isvarlal and project manager Andr� le Roux were all suspended for 10 months on what have been deemed 'trumped up charges' of fraud and corruption. The three have since been largely exonerated by a forensic audit completed by PriceWaterhouseCoopers. The findings showed Nteta and Isvarlal had committed minor infractions.
The result has been what board member Marilyn Martin calls a 'year of crisis'. The investigation alone has cost taxpayers an estimated R2.5million, money that could certainly be used more profitably elsewhere in the development of arts and culture projects.
NAC is managed by the Department of Arts and Culture and numerous parties with a vested interest have called on Minister of Arts and Culture Pallo Jordan to step in and rectify the situation. In the past three months alone, both the Swedish and Belgian governments have re-allocated large amounts of funding.
At a time when the arts seem to be gaining a more solid footing, especially under the new leadership of Pallo Jordan, it would be a shame to see them lose ground.
