National Arts Council

Suspended National Arts Council CEO Rosemary Mangope has been charged for the reported mismanagement of funds. Image via Twitter @SABreakingNews

National Arts Council executives charged over misuse of R300m relief fund

The National Arts Council has revealed that former CEO and CFO Rosemay Mangope and Clifton Changefoot have been charged following the mismanagement of funds meant for artists and creatives.

National Arts Council

Suspended National Arts Council CEO Rosemary Mangope has been charged for the reported mismanagement of funds. Image via Twitter @SABreakingNews

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, R300 million was allocated to the National Arts Council (NAC) to be distributed to struggling South African artists and creatives.

However it has come to light that the funds were reportedly mismanaged which led to the suspension of NAC chief executive officer (CEO) Rosemary Mangope and chief financial officer (CFO) Clifton Changefoot. 

A report has revealed that Mangope and Changefoot have been charged following a forensic investigation.

NAC FUNDING SAGA: WHERE IT ALL BEGAN 

Several artists staged a sit-in at the NAC in Newtown, Johannesburg earlier this year noting that they had not received funding from the organisation. 

Actor, writer and director Thami aka Mbongo was one of the artists who demanded artists from the NAC.

“It’s as if we are in level five because theatres are not fully operational. When our government introduced the COVID-19 relief and this Presidential Empowerment Stimulus Programme (PESP) there was hope,” he told Eyewitness News. 

It was reported that the NAC had claimed to have paid R37 million to creatives and had promised that they would issue out more payments. 

SUSPENSION OF NAC CEO AND CFO

In a statement released on Sunday 28 February, the NAC had made the decision to suspend Rosemary Mangope and Clifton Changefoot. 

A portion of the statement reads: “This decision follows robust engagement with management over the past weeks culminating in the Council meeting of Friday, 26 February 2021 which left the Council seriously dissatisfied with the progress on the roll out of PESP.”

“The NAC was allocated a total amount of R300 million to disbursed through two funding streams, at R100 million and R20 million for Stream One and Stream Two respectively.”

Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa launched a forensic investigation into the mismanagement of funds in July which was completed in September. 

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FINDINGS OF FORENSIC INVESTIGATION

In a statement of the report’s findings that was released by the National Arts Council on Saturday 13 November, the organisation revealed that five council members who have been suspended, received irregular payments of R511 452 and all funds have been accounted for. 

One of the findings of the report read: “Failure to provide financial oversight regarding the implementation of the PESP within the allocated budget of R285 million, resulting in an over-commitment amount of R428 073 778 (More than double the allocated budget). 

The NAC also confirmed that Mangope and Changefoot have been charged.

Read more findings of the report here