ARTISTS and the creative industry are unhappy with the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie.
They initially submitted their memorandum of demands to the Presidency, where it was accepted by Vincent Ngcobondwane, the manager in the Presidency.
However, at the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, angry artists refused to hand it over to its acting deputy director-general, Sibusiso Tsanyane. They demanded to see someone senior.
Marchers expected the memorandum to be received by either the director-general, deputy minister, or the minister.
The march took place on Wednesday, 14 May 2025.
Zama Ntshona, who is the convener and spokesman of the Cultural and Creative Industry Practitioners, said: "As practitioners of South Africa, we have written numerous letters to Minister McKenzie to attend to the issue of Mzansi Golden Economy, which is a funding arm of the department. It was supposed to give artists money at the end of March 2025."
He said MacKenzie changed that without consulting all the artists.
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Ntshona said they wrote to the minister as they wanted to talk, but McKenzie was reportedly arrogant.
"McKenzie must release results of Mzansi Golden Economy, the score, winners, losers, and amounts awarded. Give us what is rightfully ours."
He further explained that since 2011, there has been an annual call for practitioners to submit proposals to the directorate.
Ntshona said the department evaluates these projects submitted by the artists and awards funding to those selected after evaluation.
"We don't want the minister to take our memorandum of demand and must commit that by the end of May 2025, he will announce winners and losers. We want the process to be transparent."
Ntshona said they felt disrespected by the department.
Mandla Maseko, chairman of the Association of Independent Record Companies of South Africa, stated that they represent their members, who are music producers.
"We hoped and appreciated the minister and thought we have a minister who understands cash injection in the business of our members," he said.
Artist, Olebile Mothelesi, said they would escalate the protest, if the minister fails to adhere to the given timeframe.
Performance poet Lelethu Mahambehlala said: "They don't allow artists with disability to take leadership."
Actress Thembelihle Nxumalo said: "We are tired of McKenzie. He must resign. Why are we suffering as artists?"
Comedian Sipho "Schoolboy" Ntuli said: "I'm supporting the march because the department is undermining us. It's important to raise our concerns as individuals."
