Broadcaster MacG welcomed the release by Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) Minister Gayton McKenzie of a list of beneficiaries of government funding during the COVID-19 pandemic, which revealed the minister had received R75,000.
“We are grateful for the financial support we received from the Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture for COVID-19 relief,” said MacGyver (aka MacG) Mukwevo. Citizen.
DSAC paid out more than R72 million to 3,962 artists in 2020-2021. This was revealed in an updated list of beneficiaries shared by the department on Wednesday morning.
“I fully support Minister McKenzie's decision to publish the list of beneficiaries,” Mr McGillie said.
McG was not informed that his name had been made public. Citizen.
Social media users began mocking McG for using the money as a dowry for his long-time partner, Naledi Monamodi.
Related article: Department of Health pays out more than R72 million to artists during COVID-19 pandemic [List]
How MaCG spent his R75,000 🔥 pic.twitter.com/MRSHlivhL7
— ChrisExcel (@ChrisExcel102) July 10, 2024
“This funding was crucial as the pandemic affected our business and limited our ability to record and generate regular income. Long-time chillers will remember that we have had numerous conversations about this,” the organization's founder asserted. Chill out with MacG and podcasts.
MacG got 75K? 😭😭😭😭😭translation: Chief, nice to meet you https://t.co/GfAErZWlrD pic.twitter.com/EHBwyTDGh0
— Leo🧸 (@iamleonard_LEO) July 10, 2024
Related article: 'It's not funding, it's payments' – Makhadzi responds to arts and culture sector
'We have been transparent'
McG told listeners of the show, the continent's biggest podcast, that he had been transparent about the funding he had received.
“We have been transparent about the seed funding for sound equipment we received from the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA). This support has been extremely helpful in launching our platform,” he said.
Anticipation to see the list promised by the new minister was so high that ministry systems reportedly crashed when they tried to release the names of the recipients as promised by Minister McKenzie.
“The ministry is aware of the technical glitch and our engineers are working to resolve the issue. We apologise for any inconvenience caused,” the ministry said.
This list was first published in May 2020.
Other beneficiaries include the Rebecca Malope Foundation, Busiswa Kulu, Dumisani Mbebe, Arthur Mafokate and his son, Bethusile Makinga among others.
Legendary artists such as Letta Mbulu and Abigail Kubheka also feature on the list, as well as Arno Carstens and the Drakensberg Boys' Choir.
The ministry said more lists would be released soon.
“The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has always looked after the creative sector. Below is a link to the list of Covid relief beneficiaries for 2020-2021. Further lists covering other funding categories of beneficiaries from 2020 to present will be added,” DSAC said in a tweet by X.
NOW READ: Casper's Don Billiato advert pulled in part for glamorising drinking
