ACTING MEC for culture, art and traditional affairs (CATA), Manketsi Tlhape said action needs to be done to implement the department’s R659.6m budget presented recently.

The department has a mandate to make issues of culture central to economic development after Premier Supra Mahumapelo singled out the component together with agriculture and tourism as the key economic pillars for the province.

Tabling the budget, Tlhape said: “We have managed to obtain funding for Library Practice Learnership to the tune of R1.2m from the PSETA during last financial year. The department also contributed R326 000 to augment for of learners stipend. Most of the learners were recruited from the areas where Libraries are located. They have completed formal training in January and are awaiting finalisation of their assessments.

“Another grant to the tune of R135 030 was sourced from CATHSSETA for skills development. The exercise was completed in January and workers are at Klein Marico Hospitality Facility on Food Service Aid. The same SETA has approved a grant to an amount of R336 000 for the intake of eight interns for Performing Arts, Crafts and Visual Arts advertised through the entire province,” she said.

The MEC added that ten interns were also placed on a PSETA programme. She said the amount of R576 000 grant was received.

The internship programme will end at end of December this year. She further added 20 learners benefited from R720 000 grants until next year.

“Two hundred artists and arts and culture practitioners benefited from skill development progamme called Ikatisong. We will forge an agreement with the education department to place at least 30 practitioners in schools,” she said.

Tlhape pointed out that they will help art centres across communities. Six applications received for upgrading and refurbishment of underutilised as CACs.

She said they will host 85 festivals throughout the province and that these will be organised by their service points and districts in collaboration with traditional leaders and local municipalities.

The MEC indicated that these festivals will promote Mahika Mahikeng Festival as the year end bash.

Tlhape said priorities for traditional affairs will be taken into considerations. She said the construction and renovation of traditional council offices cost R27 million. Tlhape said a support for traditional council in the form of grants was R19m.

“Tools of trade for Dikgosi like cell phones cost the department R700 000. Maintenance of fleet like vehicles allocated to traditional councils was R2m, and Induction and training of newly elected members of traditional councils cost R1.5m. The finalisation of the North West Initiation Schools Matters Draft Bill was R300 000.

“We will continue to rebrand, reposition and renew our province. We will continue to increase the number of village-based recording studios. The department will spend R1.5m on this project in the four districts,” Tlhape said.

“During this financial year R24 685m will be transferred to municipalities for smooth operations and service delivery to our people. We will be handing over libraries to communities during this financial year namely; Tlokweng, Lomanyaneng, Ganalaagte, Khunwana, Tlakgameng, Ipelegeng and Boikhutso,” she said.

-TDN

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