McKenzie faces backlash over festival funding

SPORT, Arts and Culture Minister, Gayton Mckenzie, is facing widespread criticism from various segments of the arts and culture industry after his department's decision to withdraw support from significant cultural festivals and the perceived reduction in funding opportunities for organisations within the sector.

- MASHUDU SADIKE [e-mail]

The move has plunged renowned events like the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, the National Arts Festival, Suidoosterfees, KKNK, Woordfees, Innibos, Aardklop, and the Vrystaat Kunstefees into crisis, raising concerns about the future of South Africa's cultural landscape.

President of the South African Roadies Association (SARA), Freddie Nyathela, a nonprofit training organisation providing technical and production skills training for youth, said they were dismayed by Mckenzie's decision.

"The current affairs are dire, with a rogue minister abusing public power, bullying, and disrespecting the arts and culture sector with impunity, at the expense of youth empowerment, job creation and transformation," Nyathela said.

Nyathela further alleged that McKenzie has deliberately imposed "sector clusters" to "capture the Department" and has transformed the public purse into his "personal slush fund for selfish interests".

He accused Mckenzie of "blatantly disregarding the rule of law, including the approved revised White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage, and Section 16 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa".

Adding to SARA's concerns, Nyathela highlighted the Minister's alleged abuse of power to "sabotage a unique and significant Africa first project titled the 'Backstage Academy South Africa'.