The Board of the National Arts Council of South Africa held its second Council meeting on November 7 and 8 at the Kopanong Hotel in Benoni.

Among the issues Council deliberated over was a recommendation from the National Arts Council of SA Executive Committee (EXCO) that NAC Chief Executive Officer Mrs Doreen Nteta, Chief Financial Officer Mr Kiren Isvarlal and Mr Andre le Roux the National Project Manager-Flemish/South African collaborative project "Local Network Culture Policy", be suspended with full benefits whilst a forensic audit of the organization is undertaken.

This stemmed from a meeting the staff members of the NAC had requested with EXCO. During the said meeting serious allegations against the three individuals were submitted. The allegations related to, inter alia, issues of: alleged financial irregularities; alleged non compliance with PFMA; alleged abuse of power; alleged contravention of the Labour Relations Act and alleged lack of financial accountability.

In its report to Council EXCO indicated that a fair and impartial investigation of these allegations could only be undertaken by independent outside party. Furthermore that the investigations would be in the best interest of the people against whom the allegations were made and the complainants.

The NAC Board resolved to support the recommendations. Council also approved funding for the different genres plus bursaries as recommended by Panels. However, because of the serious allegations that ghost/phantom structures invariably get funding during every cycle, it was decided that the recommendations be put through a forensic audit for a maximum of two weeks before the results of the funding are released.

A media release signed by Dr Gomolemo Mokae (Chairperson), Adv Mark Gordon (Vice Chairperson) and Mr Nhlanhla Mtaka (EXCO Member) states “EXCO is putting in place a number of mechanisms to make sure that NAC business carries on as normal as we possibly can make it during this difficult time.”