The Minister of Arts and Culture, Dr Z. Pallo Jordan, expressed surprise at the statement issued to the media on 25th June 2006 by the Democratic Alliance’s spokesperson on the Arts and Culture, Ms Desiree van der Walt.

Said the Minister, “I actually spoke of and explained the invitation that South Africa received from the cities of Cologne and Berlin during my Budget Debate on 2nd June. On that occasion I said:

“We have been invited to fly the ‘Africa’s Time is Now’ flag during the 2006 Soccer World Cup in Germany. At the invitation of the German authorities we will be mounting a cultural programme that will include the performing arts and crafts in Berlin and Cologne, to create a top-of-the-mind awareness of South Africa as the next host country for the World Cup in 2010.”

That Ms van de Walt has now seen fit to lump the Premier of the Eastern Cape, her husband, two Eastern Cape MECs, three mayors, and the Speaker of the Eastern Cape Legislature together with what I distinctly said was a visit by persons associated with the arts baffles me.

If the DA feels that the Ministry of Arts and Culture should have passed up a golden opportunity to profile South African arts and a chance to showcase our artists and crafters at a venue where people from virtually every part of the world will be gathered, they should come up front and tell us.”

The Department of Arts and Culture is carrying the costs for the artists, its own personnel and support staff. Any other government officials, from the national, provincial or local tiers who are traveling to Germany, are responsible for themselves. Regrettably, owing to compelling family concerns here at home, the Minister himself will not be leading the delegation. Minister Mankenkisi Stofile, the Minister of Sport, has agreed to play host to South Africa’s guests in Berlin.