A group of artists from around the Merafong City Local Municipality will march to the municipality’s offices next week.

According to one of the local artists, Musa Njebomvu, many artists feel that they have been forgotten by the municipality.

“We used to be able to perform in the auditorium at the Carletonville Civic Centre. This has been closed for years,” he complains.

According to Njebomvu, no-one is sure whether the grand piano at the Civic Centre can still be used, as it is covered in a layer of dust. The municipality is also not holding events for musicians anymore. Because of this, artists from Khutsong want the municipality and mines in the area to assist to build a new arts centre in the township, as most bands and artists are from Khutsong.

Njebomvu adds that Khutsong has always had a very vibrant music scene, but there is no place for young artists to be developed.

A group of artists have become so upset about the matter that they have organised a march under the banner of the local political party OMO.

The group is also unhappy over the fact that municipal officials recently refused OMO to hold a Merafong Arts Theatre event at the Khutsong South Hall.

“This hall is supposed to be for events organised by everyone, not only people from the ruling party,” he fumed. The group plans to march to the municipal offices on September 23.