EFF calls out Arts and Culture Department for its lack of support for local artists

Johnathan Paoli

THE Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have condemned the recent announcement by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC), which disclosed payments made to international musician Ndivhudzannyi Ralivhona, aka Makhadzi, as disingenuous and deflecting.

National spokesperson Leigh-Ann Mathys said on Wednesday the EFF called on the department to retract their statement and issue a formal apology to Makhadzi for what it called baseless and damaging insinuations.

This follows a statement released by the department, in which it rejected claims of artists not receiving support.

Departmental head of communications Zimasa Velaphi said over the past 14 months, Makhadzi had been booked by the DSAC to perform in several national engagements, receiving as much as R230 000.

However, Mathys said the department chose to deflect its lack of logistical support for her trip to the United States of America to receive her Black Entertainment Television award by disclosing amounts of