Page 709 - Provincial Treasury Estimates.pdf
P. 709
Estimates of the Provincial Revenue and Expenditure (EPRE) – 2023/24 Financial Year
Programme 2: Cultural Affairs
South Africa’s arts and culture are as varied as one might expect from such a diverse nation. The blend of
local cultures and diverse influences make for a melting pot of creativity that never disappoints. As
custodians of South Africa’s diverse cultural, artistic, and linguistic heritage, the Directorate of Arts and
Culture aims to develop and preserve Eastern Cape culture to ensure social cohesion and nation-building.
Eastern Cape’s cultural and creative industry is a good revenue generator, and still has great potential to
produce more and contribute to job creation. The Cultural Industries Growth Strategy capitalises on the
economic potential of the craft, music, film, publishing, and design industries. The Directorate of Arts and
Culture provides support in the form of financing, management capacity, advocacy, and networking, and
by developing public-private partnerships and other initiatives that use culture as a tool for urban
regeneration. To accomplish the mandate of the Directorate and of the Department, 24 officials have been
trained on leadership and mentoring programmes.
Programme 3: Library and Archives Services
Library staff skills were developed through training programmes and for better, some have been sent to
attend Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) Conference and SITA Library
Management System (SLIMS). To further good efficient accountable government practices which are the
cornerstones of our democracy, records management audits were conducted, and records management
staff from eight Districts in the Province were trained in current records management practices. Due to
shortage of skills nationally, the Archive hosted a workshop on electronic records management to share
knowledge with archivists within the province. Library and Archives hosted a yearly Library Week
observation programme in the second week of the first quarter to provide opportunities for the various
communities, schools, universities, and other stakeholder groupings to see the Library and Archives from
“behind the scenes”; touring the strong rooms and essential back-room services such as the preservation
of Library and Archival records.
Programme 4: Sport and Recreation
The Department aims to maximize access, development and excellence at all levels of participation in
sport and recreation to improve social cohesion, nation-building and the quality of life of all in the Eastern
Cape. The Sport and Recreation’s goals include:
x Leading the process of sport transformation, asset development and equity in sport and recreation.
x Ensuring that school sport is offered in all schools in the districts and Eastern Cape in general; and
x Ensuring that institutional mechanisms are in place that provide equal access at all levels of
participation in sport and recreation.
In achieving these goals, the directorate has skilled all its stakeholders and federations by conducting
workshops, coaching, and mentoring. Last financial year has been an eye-opener, where several youths
across the length and breadth of the province have been actively involved in Sport and Recreation
programmes.
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