MEC Thandi Shongwe tabled the policy and budget speech for the Department of Culture, Sports and Recreation at the Provincial Legislature on Thursday June 9.
Shongwe said this budget seeks to lay the foundation and provide a blueprint to steer the province’s arts and culture industry to greater heights.
The allocated budget for the department is R604.1m. It is allocated according to four programmes, which is R105.5m for administration, R114.7m for cultural affairs, R225.7m for library and archival services and R158m for sport and recreation. According to her, the plans for the period ahead are focused on the transformation imperatives that will accelerate growth and build a more equal society within the creative and arts sector.
“The overarching role of this programme is to promote cultural diversity, multifaith, multilingualism and transformation of the heritage landscape, and in the process ensure that socio-economic development takes place in the province.
“These roles are implemented through three subprogrammes, which are arts and culture, language services, and heritage and museums.”
When it comes to cultural affairs, in the 2021/22 financial year, two anchor events were supported to promote cultural diversity and to enhance cultural tourism.
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The South African Traditional Music Awards and Innibos National Festival were hosted in the City of Mbombela.
Shongwe said the department would continue to support these two events in the 2022/23 financial year.
In library and archives, Shongwe said scholars refer to libraries as gateways to knowledge and culture, as they play a fundamental role in society.
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“The resources and services they offer create opportunities for learning, support literacy and education, and help to shape new ideas and perspectives that are central to a creative and innovative society.”
She said to increase access to public libraries to many of the communities, the department has planned to construct five additional new library facilities in the 2022/23 financial year.
