Thank you, hon Chairperson. Yes, we did arrange the celebration of Freedom Day. Cabinet took a decision a year ago that we should rather celebrate Freedom Day at the Union Buildings every year, and that is why you will see that we worked mainly with the province of Gauteng and the City of Tshwane.
With respect to the other provinces, we did encourage them, saying that they could have their own activities, and we really left it to them. The Department of Arts and Culture did not organise activities in provinces apart from Gauteng because they were our host, together with the City of Tshwane.
On the question of expenditure, this year we spent about R7,8 million on all Freedom Day activities and we spent about R1,3 million on marketing it.
Then there was the question as to whether activities had been organised for the Western Cape. As I said, we left it to the provinces to decide if they wanted to have activities. However, we invited provinces to participate at the Union Buildings if they so wished, and I know that the Premier of the Western Cape was there at the Union Buildings.
In short, Chairperson, that is the answer and those were the expenses for the celebration.
Chairperson, my question is about the issue of provinces celebrating 27 April. I want to find out, hon Minister, whether it was left more to the discretion of the provinces. Was the resolution binding, or did you perhaps just leave it to them? Would it then not be an issue if any province ever felt that it did not want to be part of the celebration?
At this stage we have not made it binding because these things also have to do with resources. We encouraged the MECs for arts and culture to organise celebrations in their provinces, because not everybody could go to the Union Buildings. Those that could come we encouraged to do so. So, it was not really a binding arrangement; it was up to the provinces, if they felt they should organise activities.
We are also trying to encourage people not to think about rallies every time they have to celebrate Freedom Day. People can, once they have listened to the message from the President, take part in all sorts of cultural activities in different ways so that people enjoy the day. The important thing is to observe the day in a dignified manner. Thank you very much.
Position regarding discrepancies in respect of salary levels of school management developers in Free State in comparison with other provinces
32. Mr M P Jacobs (ANC) asked the Minister of Basic Education:
(1) Whether there have been any discrepancies in salary payments in respect of salary levels of school management developers, SMDs, in the Free State in comparison with other provinces since 2003; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the reasons for such discrepancies;
(2) whether she has put any measures in place to correct the situation; if not, why not; if so, what measures?