From ballet to a new theatre – the arts part of Tito’s 2019 budget

Cape Town – South Africa’s minister of finance, Tito Mboweni, in his Wednesday afternoon 2019 Budget speech, revealed that the South African government will fund the creation of a new national theatre and a new national museum.

In addition, the South African government through the department of arts and culture will also consider financial support for the National Archives, a national orchestra and ballet troupe.

"The global renown of South Africa's art and culture is an expression of our soft power and our heritage," Mboweni said.

He added: "Our public funding choices should reflect an intention to preserve and add to our cultural canon."

SEE THE TWEET HERE:

A nation that has not preserved its history is a lost nation, through the measures introduced by the Finance Minister Hon. @tito_mboweni under the leadership of President @CyrilRamaphosa we are moving closer to self discovery & preserving our historical heritage. #Budget2019 pic.twitter.com/BFHz43Z5Pg

— Min. Nathi Mthethwa (@NathiMthethwaSA) February 20, 2019

In a briefing with the press he also revealed that the commercially insolvent SABC will need R6.8bn to survive but that the government hasn’t yet made a decision of if, or what amount the South African public broadcaster should get as a government bailout.

READ MORE: #Budget2019: 10 top reads on Tito Mboweni's 'budget for the future'