THE Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has set aside over R18 million for the Silapha Health and Wellness programme.
This after DA shadow minister of sport and recreation, Tshepo Mhlongo, questioned the termination contract of Indingliz Advertising and Marketing.
Mhlongo said: "The DA notes with concern the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture's decision to appoint a new service provider for its wellness intervention programme for artists and sports people. The Silapha Wellness Intervention Programme was initiated by the department to tackle the intensified incidents of deteriorating mental wellness of artists during and after the devastating Covid crisis.
"It has come to the DA's attention that the department has now forked out another R18 million for a new service provider despite the company, Indingliz Advertising and Marketing, being awarded the almost R15 million tender to pilot the programme for the last three years. For these types of interventions to be successful, there needs to be continuity. The minister can't scrap out and start anew every three years."
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Mhlongo said the minister must explain to the portfolio committee why a new service provider was appointed.
"We call on Minister Zizi Kodwa and Indingliz Advertising and Marketing to explain and provide a detailed plan of what their intervention did and how many artists they reached, as well as what the money was used for," he said.
Department of Arts and Culture chief director in communications management, Zimasa Velaphi, said Indingliz Advertising and Marketing's contract expired.
"The tender contract expired and a new open tender process commenced. The department had a three-year service level agreement with Indingliz Advertising and Marketing, which came to an end on 31 March 2023," he said.
Velaphi said more than R18 million had been set aside for this programme.
"No amount has been given, it is a bid process and the amount of the winning tender is R18 297 360 towards the implementation of the Silapha Wellness Programme for three years, starting from the current financial year," he said.
