Minister Gayton McKenzie ordered the release of a 90-page document including information on 3,962 artists and creatives who got funds from the Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture during the Covid-19 epidemic.
The document publicly identified the persons and the money received as part of the department’s Covid-19 assistance.
Beneficiaries applied for money, and their applications were reviewed by a team of department officials. The payments were a one-time contribution intended to support artists, creatives, and athletes during the lockdown, as no events were permitted.
Payments ranged from R2,000 to R75,000. The paper stated that there were 166 payments of R53,000 and eight payments of R75,000. The majority of payments ranged between R10,000 and R20,000.
None of the R53,000 or R75,000 payments went to sports players, but IOL can now identify which celebrities received a larger share.
Mohale Motaung, the ex-husband of choreographer, TV and radio celebrity Somizi Mhlongo, is one of eight beneficiaries who received R75,000.
He secured relief funds for Glam Troupe, his business that provides matric dancing makeovers.
Neo Nqwakuza of All in Management, which manages Motaung, also earned R75 000.
Aluwani Duke Nethononda of Duke Assignments, which arranges preliminary and final interviews as well as all logistics such as venue booking, got R75,000.
Pfunzo Mcgyver Mukwevho of M2N SERVICES CC, which is believed to be affiliated with podcaster Mac G, also received R75,000.
Other recipients were Sello Mark Magaga, who got two R75,000 payments. According to Linkedin, he is currently employed with Ayomide Films, where he is working on a new reality show for Mzansi Magic.
At the time of the epidemic, he was the head of development at Top Afrika, where he created locally inspired content. From July of last year to April of this year, he worked as a series producer and production manager for Media24.
It is unknown what criteria the department used to decide whether to award an artist, creative, or sportsperson with monies ranging from R2,000 to R75,000.
Arthur Mafokate, a veteran kwaito singer and music producer, and his son Arthur Junior Mafokate, who is currently on Showmax’s reality show ‘Born Into Fame’, each earned R20,000.
The Kiffness, also known as David Scott, earned R20,000 despite claiming to have survived the epidemic without government assistance.
McKenzie stated that he was disclosing the list for the sake of transparency and that the recipients were all good, well-meaning people. He also stated that the list was not a shame list, but he did want to remove the myth that the DSAC did not promote artists.
The minister has previously stated that the department solely benefits a select individuals, such as athletes and creatives. He aims to change this by allocating resources to museums rather than individuals who misuse the funds. He has vowed to reveal other lists.
