Key Sentence:
- Actress and local presenter Pearl Taushi calls Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Nati Mteva. to support artists.
- South Africa’s entertainment industry has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing blockade.
While artists seem to be bouncing back after a second wave earlier this year, the recent move to Level 4 blocks brought most of the activity in the hotel and entertainment industry to a halt. The Behind the Story host asked Mthethwa on Twitter Monday to offer financial support to the sector and send his congratulations and condolences.
He said, “Dear Minister @NathiMthethwaSA, I say this sincerely… the artist has a problem…can you help with real support/money like tweeting and congratulating us.” This is not the first time political artists have disputed Mthethwa for providing adequate support to artists.
Last year, singer Simfiu Dana spoke up and called the artist minister failed. He said, “For the first time in a while, I can pay the bills. You have no idea what that means to me. South Africa, do better than your artists! This is a disgrace.” Dana continued, “I’m saying this because I can’t pay my bills. I understand that I am a higher-level artist! I’m just scared of this! And are they okay? I think I’m talking to my government now, and I want them to be better. We work; we don’t deserve it! “
Local DJ Shimza also shared his offer with Mthethwa. His advice, artists can continue to appear by broadcasting television shows. The DJ said there was no answer and gave a possible reason why the artist was still hosting the super distributor at the time. “Supporting this means fewer people are going out to see their favorite artists from the comfort of their own home.”
Musicians say that artists are neglected because art is not taken seriously. “This has the potential to reduce the collection, but at the same time, it does not reduce the artist’s income because we also have to work. “Many will think that entertainment is just a game, but many lives are suffering and unrecognizable, but we need help. Ra kopa,” Shimza tweeted.