Political parties and cultural activists have criticised Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa for his desire to spend millions of rands on projects that the public do not see as urgent or beneficial to service delivery issues.
The criticism comes from reports that Mthethwa’s department was set to announce a R30 million National Philharmonic Orchestra programme which had been approved in 2018.
The plans were already dismissed by many South Africans especially after the plan which was in motion for a R22 million monument flag to be lifted amidst the tough economic challenges South Africans are facing. Twitter was a buzz over the issue of the flag with many South Africans rejecting it.
The sport, arts, and culture department face more backlash over their plans to invest R30 million into developing the country’s national orchestra.
“From the onset, we wish to state that we recognise the central significance of arts, culture and heritage in cultural, social and intellectual life of the country.
“However, in light of the recent poor decisions being made by the department- among others, the much-criticised 22m monumental flag project- as well as the Department’s highly publicised struggles to support artists during the Covid-19 pandemic, one must ask if the establishment of this new orchestra is feasible, and affordable? Said IFP chief whip in the National Assembly, Narend Singh.
“Would these funds not be better spent on outreach projects or support the country’s existing philharmonic orchestras, where infrastructure is already in place?” DA deputy spokesperson on sport, arts and culture Veronica van Dyk said the project amounted to wasteful expenditure.
“The DA utterly rejects the minister’s newest hare-brained scheme to establish a National Philharmonic Orchestra to the tune of R30m for the first year alone. It seems the minister has learned nothing from his R22mflagpole and Afrikaanse Taalmuseum en Monument debacles,” said Van Dyk.
Source: IOL, Eyewitness News, The South African, image from