Dear Honourable Mthethwa,
I shout it to you for the work you are doing in parliament. It is correct that Department is not run well. Please Check The Cultural Institutions Act, 11 of 1999 on Section 7 (1): The Chairperson of Council is elected from the appointed members of then Council and holds office for the period or the unexpired portion of the period for which he or she has been appointed as member of the Council, unless the Council otherwise determines.

The above is not happening. The Current Minister continues to flout this legislation like by the Previous Ministers. In some institutions, like Robben Island and National Heritage Council, for instance, he directly appoints Chairpersons, leading to complaints by other members. This is because, rightly so, such a Chairperson would have not been elected by them as the act dictates;. It also leads to conflicts between the seating Chairperson and the seating Council members. For the past 10 years, Robben Island Museum was negatively affected by this mishap. The National Heritage Council is the same. When you look, as you said at the Committee meeting yesterday, These appointments are politically motivated. I can't agree more on this one.

Sub-sections 2 and 3 are also important. Sub section (3) states that if the Chairperson is absent from a meeting, members present should elect one of their member to preside. instead, most of Councils appoint Deputy Chairpersons to remain the same for their terms.

The Minister should be asked the following questions and provide information:
- provide the dates in which councils within the DSAC "elected" their chairpersons. Minutes of the meetings should also be provided. If they have flouted the legislation's provisions, they must be instructed to do the right thing immediately.

It is a well-known fact that members in the new councils are members of the PA- again politically motivated in these appointments. Please continue to hold Executive Accountable. We like your energy in Parliament.

Kind regards,


Bravo Nyembe


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