Veronica Van Dyk

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) will write to the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, to ask that he urgently institutes an independent investigation into the National Art Council’s (NAC) announcement that it would only pay artists half of the funds for contracted projects. Last year, contracts were reportedly signed with 613 artists, of whom many have started with their projects and who have contracted people to work on said projects. The NAC’s U-turn is a slap … [Read more...] about Minister must investigate NAC paying half to more than 600 artists

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) will submit written parliamentary questions to the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture regarding the recent name changes in the Eastern Cape, focusing on the cost of these name changes and the public participation process that was followed prior to the changing names of cities, towns and airports in the province. It is important to interrogate whether the public, especially those residents living in these towns and cities, was given adequate and … [Read more...] about Transparency sought over EC names changes that will cost millions, in the middle of a pandemic

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling for an urgent investigation into an international report that executives at Swim South Africa (SSA), some of who serve on the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) board, have failed to report allegations of sexual abuse of minors to the South African Police Service (SAPS) as required by the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007. The Guardian reported that a police … [Read more...] about SSA and SASCOC fail swimmers after abuse allegations

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthetwa, to gain clarity regarding how his Department has spent the R150 million Sports and Arts Relief Funds. While the DA does support and appreciate that more relief funding will be made available and that the process will be reopened for our artists and athletes that are desperate for support – there is still much confusion regarding the amount of money that has been spent on relief … [Read more...] about Detailed breakdown on beneficiaries of R150m Sports and Arts Relief Funds need – Numbers don’t add up

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes with concern that the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture seems to once again have released regulations without consulting those in the arts industry. It is time the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, truly engaged with the industry in ways that will assist, instead of hamper, the reopening the sector and help artist desperate to return to their craft and earn an income, by exploring support funding for artists and theaters … [Read more...] about Minister Mthethwa must provide support for online theater performances

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) is concerned by reports stating that South Africa will have no representation at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in the Canoe and Kayak categories. The SA canoe and kayak teams have secured qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, however they might not take any part in the games due to not meeting the higher criteria set by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) which is higher than that of the International … [Read more...] about SASCOC’s unfair exclusion of SA canoe and kayak athletes from 2020 Olympic Games