NKANGALA – Nkangala artists are left in financial distress thanks to the Covid-19 lockdown which forced cancellations of all of their supposedly money-making gigs and events.
Mpumalanga gospel sensation, Jay Jay, full name John Mnisi, told the Highveld Chronicle he had suffered a great financial loss as he had to scrap a string of bookings for events which would have channelled hundred thousands of rands into his bank account. “Yes, we had to cancel. Unfortunately, these cancellations translate into a huge financial setback,” he said.
Innocent “The Revelation” Zweni from Delmas.
Another gospel maestro, Godfrey Mondlane, said invitations to perform outside the country have been put on hold. “It came at a time when I was preparing to honour invitations to perform in Mozambique, Swaziland and oversees,” he said. Mondlane, who is also the organiser of the annual MTN Joyous Celebration tour taking place in July in Middelburg, said the event will no longer materialise.
Innocent ‘The Revelation” Zweni could also recount the financial pain inflicted by the lockdown. “I was supposed to perform in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, I had to cancel,” he said. However, the artists can only find solace in the government’s social relief funding to ease their financial woes. The Department of Sports, Arts and Culture announced a R150 million relief fund for athletes and artists.
Jay Jay Mnisi from Middelburg
Speaking on radio interview, spokesperson to Minister Nathi Mthethwa, Masechaba Ndlovu, said that a total of 1050 applications have been assessed by the independent panel, 232 have been recommended for payments. “Only 603 were not recommended and 203 have been recommended for reassessments,” she said. She added that the department has already started with the payment process for applicants who have already been approved.
“We cannot afford to wait for the entire adjudicating process to be complete before beneficiaries are paid. The minister is concerned with the high number of applications in the arts & culture sector that were not recommended as they didn’t comply with the requirements after the independent panel did its due diligence,” she said.
