Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe has promised to reply, by the 15 December, to questions asked to Minister of Arts and Culture Paul Mashatile concerning the Venice Biennale.  The questions have been put to the minister on two separate occasions by DA’s Shadow Minister of Arts and Culture Dr. Lotriet. However, on both occasions the minister has not provided answers to her questions.

Questions were originally put to the minister in written form on the 2 August 2011.  However, on receiving no reply to this set of questions...

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe has promised to reply, by the 15 December, to questions asked to Minister of Arts and Culture Paul Mashatile concerning the Venice Biennale.  The questions have been put to the minister on two separate occasions by DA’s Shadow Minister of Arts and Culture Dr. Lotriet. However, on both occasions the minister has not provided answers to her questions.

Questions were originally put to the minister in written form on the 2 August 2011.  However, on receiving no reply to this set of questions Dr. Lotriet submitted them again to Mr. Mashatile in oral form in the National Assembly on the 20 October.  These questions have been ignored despite the National Assembly's rule that oral questions must be answered in 10 working days.

It has been revealed to ArtThorb that the questions set to Minister Mashatile were as follows:
1.    With respect to the South African commissioner for the Venice Biennale 2011, on what grounds was the appointment made;
2.    Whether the Minister was aware that the commissioner included artists from his own gallery to exhibit at the Venice Biennale 2011; if so, was the question of transparency and conflict of interest considered; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
3.    Whether the Department budgeted for the Venice Biennale 2011; if not, how was the delegation funded; if so, why was there no public call for participation?

Deputy President Motlanthe has only stepped into the fray on the DA’s insistences that answers be provided.  Dr Lotriet, in an email, referred to the situation as ‘extremely unsatisfactory’. She has promised to pursue the issue despite the fact that all attempts to get answers out of the Department of Arts and Culture on the matter of the Venice Biennale have, to date, failed.