“Dear @CyrilRamaphosa you are such a disappointment” these are some of the words of the award-winning singer Simphiwe Dana. This as she reacted to the court order which states that artists are occupying the NAC offices unlawfully.
Simphiwe Dana and many other South African artists have taken to their social media platforms to react to this step taken by the NAC.
“I can understand businesses abandoning the arts. They are going through a lot too, during this Covid. I fail to understand government doing the same. As their mandate is different. And I’m talking about policy, not handouts…The truth of it is that our government doesn’t understand if there is any importance to the arts. Dear @CyrilRamaphosa, you are such a disappointment when it comes to this,” tweeted Simphiwe.
If we ever thought we were important beyond being used as pawns? Now we know. Not a peep from @CyrilRamaphosa. Guy had more important things to deal with, than us. As for @NathiMthethwaSA, I have no words. And no, I’m not calling anybody.
The National Arts Council served artists who have been staging a sit-in outside their offices since early last month with an eviction order this week, 9 April.
Part of the eviction order states that: “should the artists fail to exit premises the NAC is given authority to co-opt any relevant body to assist in the executing the order, including but not limited to the South African Police Service to provide the necessary assistance in the execution of the order.”
Poet, actress, and producer Lebo Mashile also weighed in on this matter, on her lengthy Twitter thread, Lebo pointed out that these artists are occupying the spaces peacefully. She also urged people to assist by donating basic needs.
She tweeted: “My worst fear is state violence. We speak about our fears of another Marikana daily. You can help prevent this by amplifying this cause. Share what is happening widely, locally, and internationally. There are artists occupying spaces in Joburg, Bloem, and NorthWest PEACEFULLY. Abahlali base NAC has chosen to stay in the building. They are refusing to be moved. You can help by amplifying this cause, by following @im4thearts on FB, by donating funds, data, toiletries, food, or whatever skills you are willing to share. Nothing is too little.”
There is a court order which states that artists are occupying the NAC offices unlawfully. In 39 days, the artists have turned the NAC offices into a public arts space, a space that is safe for creatives and the public to experience and appreciate art. There has been no violence.
The sit-ins at the NAC offices continue despite the court order. The artists are seeking answers from the NAC about the 300 million Rands that the President’s Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP) had allocated for them. The money was reported missing, It was also reported that the Minister is taking action against the officials implicated in the mismanagement of funds following the reports that R300 million that was meant to assist artists has disappeared.
