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The Democratic Alliance is extremely concerned about the inactivity of the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) Portfolio Committee and about the fact that the minister has not answered a number of written parliamentary questions posed to her.

The current state of affairs is highly problematic in that one of the main responsibilities of the parliamentary committees, as defined in the Constitution, is to practice oversight of executive action. This is done through written questions, discussions with relevant stakeholders in committee meetings and site visits. Should committees not meet on a regular basis, it effectively means that no oversight of executive action is taking place.

The Arts and Culture committee has had exactly three meetings this year (of which the first was to elect the chairperson and the second was a discussion of the budget to be presented to the minister). The last meeting took place on the 12th of August 2009 after it had been postponed twice. At the meeting the Medium Term Strategic Framework was presented but the committee has not met since to workshop the programme.

To compound the problem, the minister has not replied to a number of written questions posed to her with regard to various critical issues such as the apparent crisis at the Robben Island Museum, the forensic investigation into the Pan South African Language Boards' CEO and disciplinary measures instituted regarding financial irregularities at DAC as indicated in the Auditor-General's report.

The DAC cannot be allowed to dodge important meetings due to its apparent aversion to parliamentary oversight. The DA will be writing letters not only to the chairperson of the committee, but also to the minister to ensure that DAC meetings happen on a regular basis.

The DA will also be undertaking a study of other portfolio committees to ascertain whether parliamentary oversight is not being undermined at other departments as well in order to ensure that the ANC-led government's executive actions are properly examined.