MEDIA STATEMENT
ATTENTION: ALL JOURNALISTS AND NEWS EDITORS
NAC presents Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme Forensic Investigation to Sport, Arts and Culture Minister and Deputy Minister
Today, the National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) presented its independent Forensic Report on the Presidential Employment Stimulus Package (PESP) to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Minister Nathi Mthethwa and his Deputy Minister, Nocawe Mafu.
This investigation follows numerous allegations and complaints of mismanagement and maladministration of the PESP from the creative industry, individuals, including some panel members who were involved in the PESP adjudication process. These allegations and complaints resulted in a commitment by Minister Nathi Mthethwa that an independent forensic investigation will be instituted.
The forensic investigation revealed several irregularities pertaining to the management of the PESP. These include financial mismanagement, process irregularities and lack of adequate oversight regarding the implementation of the PESP.
Important to also highlight from the report’s findings is that none of the recently appointed council members were found to have engaged in any wrongdoing.
The NAC committed to the Minister and Deputy Minister that based on recommendations made by the forensic investigation, action will be taken as provided for in the PFMA and Labor Relations Act. The NAC plans, without prejudice, to institute disciplinary hearings against those negatively implicated in the forensic report. Such processes will be done against a timeline with firm deliverables set against each milestone. The political principals (i.e. Minister and Deputy Minister) will also be provided with progress reports in this regard.
The Minister and Deputy Minister’s concerns also relate to the need to ensure that the systems and processes in place will not allow similar failures to occur in future. They both welcomed efforts made that culminated into a detailed independent forensic investigation report and will further study the documentation for a more in-depth understanding of issues raised.
Media enquiries:
Thola Phetla, Marketing and Communications Manager
Email: thola@nac.org.za
Issued by the National Arts Council of South Africa