Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba hosted a homecoming celebration for Makhatzi.
For BET Award-winning artiste Makhazi, it was a full-circle moment for her as she returned to the streets of Hohoyanghou on Friday to celebrate her victory with the people of Limpopo.
Makhazi began his career selling music on those very same streets.
Check out the video below:
Makhazi yesterday paraded at the BET Awards outside Boxer Superstore in Hohoyanghou, where she used to perform for a few cents and promote her CDs.
When it all began for her, she has just come full circle 🥺🔥 pic.twitter.com/T0KzwIW2z0
— Ronewa Mathephe (@Ronewa_Mathephe) July 13, 2024
The musician, whose real name is Ndifhuzani Larivona, looked back on his journey from his early days promoting his music at taxi ranks and public places to now being one of the most celebrated artistes in the country.
She did this after being nominated for Best New International Act in the audience vote category.
Related article: Limpopo Premier hosts BET Awards ceremony for Makhazi, roads blocked
On Thursday, Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba hosted a homecoming celebration at the Meropa Casino Conference Centre in Polokwane to mark Makhadzi's recent victory.
“The Limpopo provincial government would like to offer its heartfelt congratulations to Mr Makhadzi on his well-deserved victory,” Ramathuba said in his speech.
Limpopo Premier speaks about supporting artists
The former Limpopo MP for health defended support for the province's creative industries.
“We are well aware that our support has been questioned in some quarters, but we will not be discouraged by that,” she said.
“As you know as the Limpopo Provincial Government, we recognise the importance of the creative arts industries as a vehicle for job creation and economic development and are working to create a thriving and sustainable arts sector in the province through various initiatives and support programmes,” Ramathuba added.
Stories from the sport, arts and culture sector
Last week, Makhazi denied the ministry’s claim that the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) had shown support to her over the past 14 months.
The musician's team explained that the money she received from the police was compensation for services rendered.
“she [Makhadzi] “We wish to categorically state that we have never received or applied for any funds from DSAC in the past 14 months,” a statement from Makhazi Entertainment Communications read.
Read more: “It's not funds, it's payments” – Makhadzi responds to arts and culture department
On Tuesday night, DSAC released a statement denying claims that the government is not supporting Makhazi after he revealed that he had to pay for his own travel expenses to the US when he won the Best New International Act award at the BET Awards.
But the following morning, newly appointed Minister for Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie clarified his position.
“Mr Makhazi is not a grant recipient but a service provider, our IT team is in the process of fixing the first link as there are still two links remaining.
“I will speak to Mr Makhazi shortly and respond once I understand what has happened regarding his comments,” Mackenzie said on Twitter under his former alias X.
Makhazi's Homecoming
Ramathuba boasted to guests at Makhadzi's homecoming celebration that Limpopo province stood behind him.
“When Makhazi performs here and there, Makhazi does not perform alone, when you pay Makhazi, she does not prepare food for the Larivona family alone, she always has her family around her. [sic] Her dancers.”
“She not only has dancers but also producers and managers. Some managers take advantage of artists. As a government, we will ensure that artistes are protected.”
Watch Ramathuba's speech below:
