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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Foreword by the Minister, Dr BS Ngubane

In what we view as a motion of confidence in our service delivery, the President during 2002, announced the splitting-up of the old Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology into two separate Departments. The unbundling came into effect on 1 August 2002, and resulted in the establishment of a separate Department of Arts and Culture.

Since it comes with added responsibilities and new programmes and projects, the establishment of the new Department also necessitated the setting up of a complete new structure and organogram to support it. Hence the new dispensation as reflected in this Strategic Plan of three new Branches, i.e., that of Arts, Culture and Language in Society, Cultural Development and International Relations and Heritage, National Archives and Library Services. Each of the new Branches will be headed by a Deputy Director-General. These posts will be filled during course of the new financial year.

The Department will also kick off the new financial year with the appointment of its first Director-General. In that regard I think the Department was fortunate indeed to be able to obtain the services of Dr Itumeleng Mosala, who has now joined us. I believe that with his leadership skills and experience, Dr Mosala will add value to the existing management team. Dr Mosala and his team will have the exciting challenge of having to establish the new Department, implementing its new structure and to continue the momentum of what has been achieved until now.

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1.2 Introduction by the Director-General, Dr I Mosala

I have the pleasure of presenting the Strategic Plan for the new MTEF period. It is my intention to have the Department’s new strategic approach, once again, addressing the focus areas of government operations, be it for the purpose of promoting economic empowerment, to alleviate poverty, combating crime, promoting nation building, improving sound governance or fighting HIV/AIDS.

Initiatives detailed in the previous Strategic Plan have developed to such an extend that it will now be taken further to more advanced phases of implementation. Through reading our Plan, the following will be evident:

• Towards the end of last year, Cabinet approved the draft National Language Policy Framework, aimed at promoting the equitable use of all 11 official languages. During the new financial year we aim at submitting the South African Languages Bill to Parliament;

• During 2002 we were involved in the arrangements of the Moral Regeneration Summit. During the new financial year, the Department will start implementing a directive from Cabinet, mandating us to drive the Moral Regeneration Programme on behalf of Government;

• Whereas the Department, during the period 1998-2002 completed six of the nine Legacy Projects, originally envisaged, we, during the new financial year, aim at expanding the Project to further implement our aim of redressing the imbalances as far as portraying specific aspects of the country’s heritage. Freedom Park, as one of the projects, will see the implementation of its first phase, that of the actual construction;

• With the emphasis on good governance, the National Archives, during the new financial year, will continue implementing the provincialisation process, in order for it to cater for the needs of all provinces;

• With an amount of R80m having been allocated to the Department for the purpose of celebrating our ten years of democracy, the Department, over the next twelve months, will work closely with the Presidency and relevant departments to plan the event;

• With funds that have been allocated to address transformation at the public entities listed with the Department, we intend to improve access to arts and culture at our playhouses, to expand the number of government aided orchestras to three and to ensure that transformation takes place within our heritage institutions, as well as establishing the National Heritage Council to ensure proper resourcing of our national heritage.

• The Department will also continue to promote economic empowerment by properly utilising our cultural industries, i.e. film, music, design, printing and publishing and also craft.

I believe that by reading this document, you will get a balanced insight and proper understanding of our work and how it is integrated within the bigger context of the work of Government.

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1.3 Departmental Vision and Mission

Vision

Arts and culture fully utilised in achieving social development and economic empowerment and in branding the Country, equitable promotion and protection of all 11 official languages and respect for our history through the conservation of our collective heritage and information.

Mission

• To achieve equity as far as access to resources for arts, culture, heritage and language is concerned;

• To promote the linguistic diversity of our country as a resource in empowering all South Africans to participate in their country’s social, political and economic life;

• To support the equitable development, conservation and promotion of our collective history, national symbols, heritage and libraries;

• To promote South Africa’s presence in the international arena through bilateral and multilateral collaboration programmes;

• To develop the economic and creative potential of arts and culture through arts education and training and to alleviate poverty by utilising arts and culture as a platform for sustainable job creation.

The Department’s activities are divided into four programmes and their respective purposes are the following:

Programme 1 : Administration
Programme 2 : Arts, Culture and Language in Society
Programme 3 : Cultural Development and International Relations
Programme 4 : Heritage, National Archives and National Library Services

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1.4 Overview of past performance and spending trends

The following achievements are highlighted to illustrate the wide range of issues on which we have delivered over the last few years :

The strategic framework for the transformation of Arts, Culture and Heritage, within the new democratic dispensation of the country, is stipulated in the 1996 White Paper. The responsibility for these initiatives is now vested with the Department of Arts and Culture, that came into being on 1 August 2002, following the unbundling of the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology. The establishment of the new Department also saw a reconfiguration as far as its structure is concerned, as indicated above.

The framework for development in arts and culture is focussed on redirecting the arts and culture budget to serve the artistic needs of the entire country. This has been done effectively, especially through the establishment of a number of institutions to lead implementation, such as the National Arts Council. The Department has also addressed problems within the performing arts councils. Key outcomes of the review of this sector includes a policy, in terms of which the performing arts councils were converted into playhouses and to encourage separate performing and production companies. The Department continues to subsidise six theatres and to focus on the effective management of the theatres.

South Africa's linguistic diversity is supported by strong constitutional commitments to protecting language rights and promoting indigenous languages. Cabinet approved the draft National Policy Framework in 2002, after the proposed strategy was costed to determine its financial implications. The framework is aimed at promoting the equitable use of the 11 official languages and at ensuring redress for the previously marginalised indigenous languages. The policy targets all government structures and public institutions in order to promote efficient public service administration through proper language management. Provinces will formulate their own policies according to regional circumstances and the needs of communities. Where comprehensive communication of information by government is required, documents will be published in all 11 official languages. In cases where government documents are not made available in all 11 official languages, national government departments will publish documents simultaneously in at least six languages. The policy will be phased in progressively in the short, medium and long term. The South African Languages Bill will be submitted to Parliament during 2003. The Department will also focus on the recruitment and training of telephone interpreters and the development of a Language Code of Conduct for the public service.

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The Cultural Industries Growth Strategy was initiated in 1997 and capitalises on the economic potential of the craft, music, film, publishing and design industries. Departmental support goes towards developing public-private partnerships with the market, and initiatives using culture as a tool for urban regeneration. Notable initiatives include the Music Industry Task Team, the Print Industry Cluster Council, South African Music Week, the Craft Imbizo and setting up export councils in the cultural industries. The increased focus on the potential of the film industry includes the establishment assessment procedures for government allocations through agreed policy parameters. The National Film and Video Foundation has the responsibility to perform these assessments.

The Department received a special poverty alleviation allocation as a tool for urban regeneration, rural development and job creation. It also aims at providing access to skills and markets. The Wild Coast, Lebombo and Maputo Corridor Spatial Development Initiatives (SDIs) were focal areas of cultural tourism development linked to this allocation.

The Department, during this period, has been participating in all the Bi-National Commissions that exist between South Africa and its foreign partners and has actively contributed towards UNESCO and SADC activities. Overseas development aid programmes increased and agreements/partnerships have for instance been established with the Swedish and the Flanders. Partnerships with France, Canada, Norway, Ireland, China, Japan and Italy are being reviewed and models for collaboration will be established within the next year. The Department registered as a member of the Commonwealth Foundation on behalf of the country. This membership will leverage skills, resources and opportunities worth approximately R5m for various competencies.

During 2002 a database for the South African Geographical Names Council was established. The Department will assist with the provincialisation and localisation of structures to facilitate transformation of geographical names at provincial level. This exercise will be performed in compliance with national and international standard frameworks.

Cabinet approved nine Legacy Projects in 1998. Six of the projects have been delivered to date. The projects aim at redressing imbalances in the representation of specific aspects of the country’s history, encouraging nation building and contributing towards tourism development. Freedom Park was officially launched on 16 June 2002. Construction of the first phase, which includes the Garden of Remembrance, an administration block and the commercial precinct, is due to commence during the 2003/4 financial year.

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Declared Cultural Institutions have seen a more integrated management of heritage resources through the establishment of the South African Heritage Resources Agency as a statutory body in 2002. Increased co-ordination of the transformation of the heritage sector, through the establishment of the National Heritage Council in 2003 is foreseen.

The Department started in 2002/03 with a process to transform the accessibility of institutions through the improvement of museum buildings and infrastructure. Greater emphasis will also be given to the security of collections. This project will continue as high priority during the MTEF period.

Progress was made by the National Archives for provinces to take over national facilities. Provincialisation has already taken place in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, while the Western Cape and the Free State will follow on 1 April 2003. The National Archives received the bulk of the records of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and has an active programme to process these materials and to apply the recommendations of the TRC relating to its records. The National Archives is engaged in regional and international collaborative projects such as training archival specialists from the SADC region and is the main agency of the department leading the presidential SA-Mali Project to conserve the ancient manuscripts of Timbuktu, which has been identified as a NEPAD project.

The Department has also been given the responsibility for the Government's Moral Regeneration programme. The first Moral Regeneration Summit was held during April 2002, during which the Moral Regeneration Movement was established. Moral Regeneration will receive ongoing attention during the MTEF. Heritage Day 2002 saw the promotion of the new national symbols. The Bureau of Heraldry, in collaboration with the Presidency, was instrumental in having the new Coat of Arms adopted in 2000 and the new set of National Orders. The new National Orders were unveiled on Freedom Day 2002, and were awarded for the first time on 10 December 2002. Due to the importance of the new symbols and institutions, this promotion will be continued in 2003, in order to make these symbols known to the broader South African society.

Planning will commence during 2003 for the 10th celebration of South Africa’s new democracy. Celebrations will reach its peak in April 2004 with various local activities as well as at most South African embassies.

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Expenditure over the last 4 years is reflected in the table below.

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Expenditure trends

The budget has seen nominal growth at an annual average of 16,1 per cent between 1999/2000 and 2002/03. Over the next three years nominal growth is seen at an annual average of 24,1 per cent. The higher growth is mainly attributed to additional allocations in respect infrastructure and for Freedom Park.
Programme 4: Heritage, National Archives and National Library Services dominate the budget of the Department of Arts and Culture. It comprises an average of 62,03 per cent of the Budget over the medium term. The bulk of the expenditures under this programme consist of transfers to heritage institutions.
The 2002 Budget allocations have been revised upwards by R318,4 million in 2003/04 and R144,3 million in 2004/05. In addition to catering for revised inflation estimates, the following additional allocations in 2003/04 and 2004/05 provide for:

• Infrastructure development at institutions and the National Archives (R140 million and R160 million)

• Development of Freedom Park (R100 million and R200 million)

• Additional funding for supporting Freedom Day 2004 celebrations to commemorate 10 years of democracy, and additional funding to institutions and the Pan South African Language Board (R71,5 million and R86,5 million)

Additional allocations see overall budget growth increasing from an annual average 16,1 per cent between 1999/02 and 2002/03 to 24,3 per cent over the medium term.

The acceleration of spending on Arts and Culture over the medium term is significant, after slow growth over the years leading to 2002/03. A large proportion of the growth, however, is on special non-recurring and infrastructure projects.

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Allocation from the special allocation for poverty relief is R42 million in 2003/04. Decisions about poverty relief funding for 2004/05 have not been finalised.

1.5 Departmental values

We are guided by the following values:

PROFESSIONALISM

An employee must, during official duties behave and execute her or his duties in a manner that enhances the reputation of the Department.

COMPETENCE

An employee must strive to deliver top class quality products and services, seeks innovative ways to solve problems and enhances effectiveness and efficiency within the context of the law.

INTEGRITY

An employee shall be faithful and honest in the execution of her or his duties and must be committed through timely service towards the development and upliftment of all South Africans.

ACCOUNTABILITY

An employee must be responsible and accountable in dealing with public funds, property and other resources.

TRANSPARENCY

An employee must promote transparent administration and recognise the right of access to information excluding information that is specifically protected by law.

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2. STRATEGIC DIRECTION - MEDIUM TERM STRATEGY

2.1 Key departmental objectives

The key principle underpinning the detailed objectives of the Department as tabulated below is the steering of various systems (heritage, cultural industries, etc.) in the national interest and benchmarked according to international criteria. The following White Papers and Acts assist DAC in furthering this goal:

• White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage

• National Archives and Record Service of South Africa Act 1996 (act no. 43 of 1996)

• Cultural Institutions Act 119 of 1998

• Culture Promotion Act 35 of 1983

• South African Geographical Names Council Act 118 of 1998

• Heraldry Act 18 of 1962

• Legal Deposit Act 54 of 1997

• National Arts Council Act 56 of 1997

• National Film and Video Foundation Act 73 of 1997

• National Heritage Council Act 11 of 1999

• National Heritage Resources Act 25 of 1999

• PAN South African Language Board Act 59 of 1995

• National Library of South Africa Act 92 of 1998

• Library for the Blind Act 91 of 1998

The Department of Arts and Culture will pursue the achievement of the following key objectives:

Programme 1 : Administration (Corporate Services)

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Programme 2 : Arts, Culture and Language in Society

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Programme 3 : Cultural Development and International Relations

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Programme 4 : Heritage, National Archives and National Library Services

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2.2 Resource requirements per key departmental objective

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Transfers and subsidies per programme