The Bonakude forensic report was compiled by the Bonakude Accountants and Auditors with the aim to investigate maladministration within Pacofs and whether any appointment of officials was done irregularly. 

It was during July of 2022 when the minister of Sports, Arts and Culture revealed in a written response that 90% of the Bonakude report’s recommendations have been implemented and that the process is already under way to conclude the remaining 10%. 

In a written response to OFM News’ enquiry, Adri van Veijeren, Senior Manager: Marketing at Pacofs, says this is the case, as “90% of the Bonakude report’s recommendations have been implemented. The process is already under way to conclude the remaining 10%.”

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The Democratic Alliance's (DA) Shadow Deputy Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Veronica van Dyk has said they are of the view that the entity lacks strong leadership that can carry out its responsibilities. She said what is alarming is that the council appears to have broken its vow to execute the recommendations in both the Bonakude and Morar forensic reports. 

Van Veijeren explained that the recommendations in the Morar forensic report have been fully implemented. When asked about the details of which recommendations of the Bonakude forensic report still need to be implemented, she replied some of the details cannot be supplied in order to protect the information of those who were implicated by the report. “The council, in its communication with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture, does not specify the details on which recommendations have been implemented in order to protect the personal information of those implicated.”

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Van Veijeren further explains that the board of the entity consists of seven members, who are all actively fulfilling their obligations as part of the board. When replying to the allegation that some of the implicated people in the forensic reports have received promotions to top positions, she said that the recommendations that were outlined for the implicated people have been implemented. A written question by Van Dyk, to the minister of the department in question, revealed that there have been three legal cases and thirteen disciplinary cases involving Pacofs since 2019. However, the Minister’s response did not fully answer Van Dyk’s question regarding what the status or reasons for the cases were or the amount of money that has been spent on each case. 

Another question that was not answered, is how much was spent on the upliftment of artists within the province.

In the latest development, Pacofs has appointed a new CEO after the position has been vacant for 23 months. Themba Dlamini has been appointed on a five-year performance-based contract from 1 November 2022. He has held various positions such as CEO at the Office of the Public Protector of South Africa, Managing Director of the Black Management Forum, CEO of the National Gambling Board, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa), and the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA). 

As far as his educational background is concerned, he holds a Master’s Degree in Development Economics from Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts (USA), and a BA Honours Degree in Economics from the Howard University in Washington DC (USA). “Dlamini has board experience, which includes serving as a board member of the National Library of South Africa, North West Development Corporation, National Heritage Council, and the National Planning Commission,” said Van Veijeren. 

“We are really excited, as the council, that after a long, arduous search, we have finally found a CEO who is experienced and fit for purpose. We trust that, as part of a collective of senior management, Mr Dlamini will provide leadership that will change the organisational culture at Pacofs so that Pacofs achieves its organisational mission,” said Advocate Thato Moeeng, the Pacofs Council's Chairperson.

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