Over R40 million per year spent on salaries for 24 arts and culture CEOs

The department of sports, arts and culture (DSAC) has released details of the remuneration packages of its executives.

The information was shared via a written response to a parliamentary question submitted this month. It lists the salaries and perks of almost 30 CEOs of department agencies and heritage organisations.

All the salaries are in line with levels 13 to 16 of the department of public service and administration’s senior management service model.

R45 million annually for 24 CEOs

The DA’s Thamsanqa Mabhena put in many parliamentary questions requesting the salaries of state-run agencies across multiple departments.

DSAC responded with the total remuneration package, allowances, performance bonuses and all benefits of the CEOs of 26 entities – 24 for arts and culture and two for sport – under its umbrella.

“The CEOs/Directors of DSAC public entities are not employed under the Public Service Act with the exception of Pan South African Language Board and Boxing South Africa,” the department clarified.

 The remuneration packages of the 24 arts and culture CEOs totalling at least R45 million per year, while two sport’s bodies came in at just under R3.5 million per year.

Of the 25, only five were awarded or disclosed the awarding of performance bonuses for either the 2023/24 or 2024/25 financial years.

Arts and culture CEO pay

The disclosed amounts included housing subsidies, medical aid, pension contributions and UIF contributions.

The only two sporting bodies listed were Boxing South Africa and the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport, whose CEOs earn R1.74 million and R1.69 million per year, respectively.

Here is the list of the annual CEO remuneration packages for arts and culture entities under the DSAC:

• Playhouse Company: R3.02 million
• National Heritage Council: R2.6 million
• National Film and Video Foundation: R2.6 million plus a R130 000 performance bonus
• National Library of South Africa: R2.5 million
• South African State Theatre in Pretoria: R2.42 million
• Freedom Park at Salvokop in Pretoria: R2.32 million
• Artscape theatre in Cape Town: R2.3 Million
• South African Heritage Resources Agency: R2.01 million
• War Museum of the Boer Republics in Bloemfontein: R1.9 million
• Performing Arts Centre of the Free State in Bloemfontein: R1.89 million
• Pan South African Language Board: R1.89 million
• Afrikaanse Taal Museum and monument in Paarl: R1.77 million plus two performance bonuses of just under R40 000
• National Arts Council: R1.76 million plus two performance bonuses totalling R247 000
• National Museum in Bloemfontein: R1.69 million
• Mandela Bay Theatre complex, formerly the Port Elizabeth Opera House: R1.65 million
• Market Theatre Foundation: R1.63 million plus two performance bonuses totalling R229 000
• Ditsong Museums of South Africa, which includes eight historical sites, including the National museums of natural and military history: R1.56 million
• The Nelson Mandela Museum, Mandela house in Vilakazi Street: R1.56 million
• National Library for the Blind: R1.49 million plus one performance bonus of R149 000
• William Humphreys Art gallery in Kimberley: R1.43 million
• Luthuli Museum outside Charlottedale: R1.38 million
• Amazwi South African Museum of Literature in Grahamstown: R1.42 million per year
• KZN Museum in Pietermaritxburg: R970 000 per year plus R536 000 in undisclosed perks
• uMsunduzi – Voortrekker Museum in Pietermaritzburg: R878 000 salary per year and R207 000 annual travel allowance

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