If I must die it’s okay, I didn’t receive any money: Makhadzi

BET award-winning musician, Makhadzi, says she’s never received any funding from the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture.

A teary Makhadzi took to social media to dispel the assertions by the department claiming that she’s amongst the artists that benefit from the government.

South Africans came out guns blazing complaining about the department spending money on super fans instead of having funded her trip to the States for her BET award.

The department rejected the assertions that it did not provide financial support to Makhadzi.

“Over the past 14 months, Makhadzi has been booked by DSAC to perform in several national engagements, receiving as much as R230 000,” says the DSAC.

An emotional Makhadzi says she’s only received money for services rendered to the department and nothing else.

She says she will not allow herself to be used as a scapegoat, in a bid to cover up for individuals who unduly benefitted from the department.

“That is the money I worked for.”

The EFF has come out to defend the global star, slamming Minister Gayton McKenzie for victimising Makhadzi.

They’ve called on the department to retract their statement, labelling the move as disingenuous and reprehensible.

The party’s spokesperson Leigh-Anne Mathys says this situation stems from a promise made by the Minister, in his eagerness to appease public sentiment, to cease what he termed the “wasting” of money on official supporters.

“Instead of addressing their stance on official supporters, the department chose to deflect by disclosing the amounts of money they paid to Makhadzi for her performances and appearances. ”

Mathys says it must be made clear that the payments made to Makhadzi were for professional services rendered, not gratuitous support.

“The Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture should focus on addressing the numerous instances of mismanagement and corruption within their purview, particularly by top politicians, rather than targeting a successful black woman who has brought pride to our nation.”

The party has called on the department to issue an apology to Makhdzi.

The ANCYL has also thrown its weight behind the musician, accusing the department of incompetence.

“We stand firmly with Makhadzi and all artists who have been impacted by these actions. The case of Makhadzi, an award-winning artist who has publicly shared her experiences of
insufficient support from the government, despite receiving over R230 000 in performance fees from the department, highlights the glaring incompetence and disconnect within the
department,” says the ANC’s youth league.

“The recently released statement by the department is a testament to this incompetence and fails to address the real issues at hand. The unprofessional ethics and intentional lack of consideration for artist’s dignity introduced by Gayton McKenzie, who is deployed by the Patriotic Alliance to the national government, are not only unwelcome but outright contemptible. The Parliamentary Committee on Sports,
Arts, and Culture must hold the department accountable for these actions.”

This comes in the wake of the department’s move to release the list of artists and athletes who benefitted from the COVID-19 relief fund.

The government had set aside R150 million to assist people in the arts and sport sector following the devastating knock presented by the deadly pandemic.

The money disbursed was capped at a maximum of R20 000 per artist or company.

However, according to the list made public only R72 036 097,14 was spent on the sector.

Among those who have benefitted from the ‘relief fund’ is Arthur Mafokate and his son, Bongeziwe Mabandla, Mafikizolo, Kenneth Nkosi, Lusanda Beja, Kelly Khumalo and Letta Mbulu.

https://www.dsac.gov.za/sites/default/files/2024-07/Covid-19%20Relief%20Beneficiaries%202020-2021.pdf

The controversial list has South Africans divided on social media, with some questioning the Minister on why foreign artists benefitted from the fund.