South Africans were blessed with new cabinet ministers in 2024 who were ready to hit the ground running - one of those ministers was Gayton Mckenzie who wanted to bring about major transparency to the department of sports, arts and culture.
One of his moves was to release a list of the Covid-19 beneficiaries by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture for 2020/2021. A 90 page document with 3,962 beneficiaries, detailing all the artists and creatives who received funding.
The document publicly named the individuals supposedly stakeholders in the sports, arts, TV, film and creative sectors, who received various payments totalling payout of over R72 million.
The beneficiaries applied for the funding and their applications were vetted by a panel composed of officials from the department. The funds were a once off payment meant to assist the artists, creatives and sports people during the lockdown as no events were allowed.
Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has always cared for the creative sector. Below is the link to the Covid-19 Relief Beneficiaries 2020-2021 list. More lists are coming to cover other categories of funding since 2020 to date Beneficiaries: https://t.co/I4sycG0RGP#DSACCares
The exact amount paid out was a whopping R72,036,097.14 with payments ranging between R2000 and R75,000. The names on the list were the talk of social media as it features some prominent names in South Africa.
Influencer and businessman Mohale Motaung who is the ex-husband of choreographer, TV and radio personality Somizi Mhlongo, is one of the eight beneficiaries who got R75,000. He received the relief funding for Glam Troupe, which is his business that does matric dance makeovers.
Neo Nqwakuza of All in Management also received R75 000, this is the same company that manages Motaung. Pfunzo Mcgyver Mukwevho of M2N SERVICES CC, believed to be a company associated with podcaster Mac G, received R75,000 too.
Veteran kwaito artist and music producer Arthur Mafokate and his son Arthur Junior Mafokate - who is currently on Showmax reality show ‘Born Into Fame’ both received R20,000.
Vocal musician The Kiffness, real name David Scott received R20,000 which left many shocked on X as he had claimed to have survived the pandemic without having received any relief from the government.
The Patriotic Alliance leader didn't stop with releasing just that list, he also revealed how BET Award-winning singer Makhadzi had received over R230,000 in performance fees from the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture.
His revelation came after the “Number 1” hitmaker revealed in an interview on Podcast and Chill that she received no support from the department towards her trip to Los Angeles for the BET Awards, where she received the Best New International Act.
Media Statement
— Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (@SportArtsCultur) July 9, 2024
Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has noted the public reaction that followed the recent instruction by Minister Gayton McKenzie, for the Department to publish names of creatives & athletes who have received money from the Department#InspiringANationOfWinners pic.twitter.com/zO0erOJCmr
“DSAC strongly rejects the assertion that it has not supported Makhadzi. Over the past 14 months, Makhadzi has been booked by DSAC to perform in several national engagements, receiving as much as R230,000,” said the department in a statement.
Makhadzi went live on Facebook and hit back at the statement, which she felt portrayed her as someone who had unfittingly benefited from the government whereas she was booked to perform and earned her money.
“I didn't eat any money, they must reveal the people that ate the money for the department, they must reveal the real names of the people that were funded unlawfully….
“I’ve been doing a lot of things that need funding and no one has been funding me and I was okay with that, I never said anything,” said Makhadzi.
IOL Entertainment