Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Veronica van Dyk MP.
While the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State (PACOFS) is supposed to be the flagship of theatre activities in the Free State, the entity is clearly lacking decisive leadership to perform their duties.
The DA has written to the chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on sport, arts and culture, Beauty Dlulane, to request that PACOFS appear urgently before the committee. We also requested an oversight visit to the entity – the committee has been inundated with letters from whistleblowers, indicating that an investigation should be prioritized.
It is extremely concerning that nothing seems to have come of the Council’s promises during a previous oversight in April 2021 to implement recommendations in the Bonakude and Morar forensic reports.
It is shocking that despite the forensic reports clearly exposing the corruption and malpractices at the entity, some of the implicated individuals were rewarded with a golden handshake and promoted to senior positions.
The Auditor-General (AG) pointed out that consequence management in entities of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC) is lacking and this is clearly the case at PACOFS.
The DA also requested the monitoring and evaluation report from DSAC on the implementation of both the Bonakude and Morar reports. It is becoming clearer every day that investigations into corruption and maladministration are mere diversionary tactics – empty gestures to appease the public – to distract from the continued looting and lack of consequence management.
PACOFS also attempts to hinder proper oversight by not responding to written questions.
This lacklustre attitude to consequence management – a trend seen in almost every government department and highlighted by the AG – allows corruption to flourish and endangers the lives of whistleblowers. South Africa needs a strong-willed and principled Parliament to right this ship. Without oversight, institutions will continue to be hollowed out.