Artists protest ‘funding injustice, neglect’
Artists feel undermined and neglected by the government and demand that action be taken against the unfair treatment towards the arts sector.
Artists from various organisations marched to the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC) on Wednesday to demand fairness in the allocation of funds and recognition of the arts sector.
This collective action rose from ongoing challenges that they reportedly face with funding from the department.
According to the president of the Association for the Entertainers of South Africa (AESA), Hepter Mailula, what triggered the protest was the injustice that happened in the Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) call for applications, an initiative to fund artists across the country.
“The call for applications was opened, but once artists had applied, it was reversed and then later reopened again.”
He said the revised application process introduced elements that hindered artists seeking funding to benefit from the opportunity.
It came with conditions and restrictions that limited applicants from getting funded.
“The call for reapplications was now selective, only the artists and organisations registered as NPOs and NGOs were to apply, yet most artists and organisations are registered as NPCs.”
“NPC certificate holders are being deprived of opportunities for no reason. Why are they discriminating against the NPC because it is also a valid and legal certificate?”
Mailula added that the DSAC is undermining and neglecting the arts sector because many aspects of it are not in good condition.
He said disabled artists, especially, are hit the hardest by the neglect as they have special needs like accessible premises and equipment.
Disabled artist Lucia Khoza, who resides in Mapobane, conveyed her concern about the neglect and unfairness that disabled artists face.
She said being excluded from getting funding forces them into unpleasant situations.
“It is such an awful experience, artists with disabilities are not recognised. Most arts centres are not disability-friendly and we often can’t access them.”
She reflected on how she is often subjected to using stairs in centres that aren’t user-friendly for people in wheelchairs.
She said that when they raise issues they face as disabled artists, they are dismissed.
“We are made to feel as though we are causing trouble while we are just fighting for our equal rights,” she said.
Another artist from Soshanguve, Mpho Majiga, shared how he has been affected by the injustice in funding from the DSAC.
He said that although the arts sector is always mentioned in budget speeches, they never benefit from it; only the elite and well-known people benefit.
“I once got an opportunity to showcase my talent internationally. I came to the department to request funds just to get a plane ticket to the UK, but because they didn’t know my face, they kicked me out.”
He said that as artists, they are suffering a lot and feel like the department does not care about them.
“We can’t even pick ourselves up, have creative events like festivals, but money is there, it is being eaten by the wrong people,” he said.
He added government needed to step up and take accountability.
“We need the government to take action on this issue, it has to be put to an end!”
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
