SABC concert artists gatvol - musicians demand to be paid
Organisers of the SABC Thank You Music Concert are living in fear following threats by musicians who want their money.
Mzwakhe Mbuli, who was in the organising team, confirmed they had been inundated with calls from artists who were demanding their money.
One of Mbuli's office workers, who cannot be named, said she was harassed by musicians and she could not take it anymore. "They call any time of the day or night. Some are very rude . I take their calls and explain that we are still waiting for the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) to pay."
Mbuli, said they have already told musicians that they did not have the money and were waiting for a bail-out from the department.
"We have been harassed by musicians since the festival took place. We told them that if we had the money we would have paid them long time ago. We are waiting for the DAC," said Mbuli.
"People are angry and I really fear for the staff and for my life. Most [artists] do not believe [us] when we say we do not have money."
But the DAC distanced itself from the SABC Thank You Music Concert despite organisers displaying its banners during the event . DAC spokeswoman Zimasa Velaphi said they were approached with a proposal to support the concert. "The DAC did not make any commitment to support the project. Artists claiming that they are owed funds should contact the organisers directly," she said.
But Mbuli said the department was supposed to contribute R3-million.
Organisers still owed the venue about R600000. Mbuli said the concert had a shortage of funds and it depended on hand-outs like the R2.5-million they got from the SABC. They had to borrow an extra R1-million to pay 40 artists . He said they could have easily called off the concert a few days before it happened but the DAC raised their hopes.
"We knew that we did not have enough money, but our meeting with Deputy Director-General of Arts and Culture Charles Mabaso at the Apartheid Museum gave us hope. He committed they will help."
The R2.5-million was used to pay some of the artists and to secure the venue, which cost about R1.3-million, but this price was discounted. It was further used to hire a stage and sound system for over R800000, while organisers forked out money to cover the stadium pitch.
An invoice that Sowetan has seen showed that the organisers had to pay for cleaning services, JMPD traffic management, medical services, event ticketing and accreditation management, and water and electricity deposit, among other things. Mbuli vowed to pay the balance even if it meant that he would make a public plea for help.
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago could not comment on whether the broadcaster would help concert organisers as the matter had not been discussed. He said the SABC was a media sponsor of the event and it played its part.
The festival featured Rebecca Malope, Ihashi Elimhlophe, Phumi Maduna, Arthur Mafokate, Chomee, Trompies, Nothembi Mkhwebane, Freddie Gwala, Kholeka Dubula, Deborah Fraser, Doc Shebeleza and many other musicians.
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