By Celani Sikhakhane
- The government gave funding to 30 people and groups in Gauteng but only nine KwaZulu-Natal artists got this new money.
- Gayton McKenzie changed the arts fund to reach new people but organisers say he now pays for poorly run festivals.
Artists in KwaZulu-Natal are angry with the government over arts funding. They say Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie gave too much money to Gauteng.
McKenzie released the Mzansi Golden Economy funds this week. The money helps artists and groups.
Gauteng got the most money. The government funded 30 people and groups in that province.
In KwaZulu-Natal, only nine artists got money. Some artists spoke to Scrolla.Africa but asked to stay unnamed. They said this shows the minister does not take them seriously.
“We want the minister to explain to us the criteria they used in order to nominate the beneficiaries,” an event organiser said.
The organiser said they are very angry that Gauteng got the most help while their province only had nine winners.
Other artists in KwaZulu-Natal said McKenzie gave money to poorly run festivals that do not have a history of success.
McKenzie has changed how the arts fund works. He stopped paying some older, well-known festivals. The minister says he wants to give money to new and different projects to change the arts sector.
This new plan has caused a fight over who gets the money.
Scrolla.Africa tried to reach the sports and arts department for answers.
Ministry spokesperson Stacey-Lee Khojane did not answer her phone.
Zimasa Velaphi, the head of communications, asked for a text message but did not answer questions before the deadline.
Pictured above: Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie is under fire in KwaZulu-Natal over arts funding.
Image source: GCIS
