Local artists have been calling Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa useless and calling on him to resign. Minister Mthethwa has recently announced and continues to defend an R22 Million flag project. His lack of investment in the arts and creative industry is resented by many artists, who feel that he knows nothing about what he does. Bonang Matheba is among those artists, who boldly urged the minister on Twitter to "go away."
We were all woken up by a rageful Bonang Matheba on the timeline this morning who is fresh from hosting the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards in Lagos this past weekend. Bonang dragged the national Minister of Sports and Arts Nathi Mthethwa on Twitter following his decision to spend a sum of R22 Million on a flag project. Bonang took to Twitter, and wrote, tagging the minister’s official account, “You’re useless and we all hate you Nathi Mthethwa.” She further added a follow up tweet urging the minister to leave his position, “You have no clue what you’re doing. Go away.”
Minister Nathi Mthethwa appeared before the sports, art and culture committee earlier this week to defend his decision to spend a whopping sum of R22 Million on a flag project with claims that it is part of the department’s mandate and not wasteful. He said, “One of the mandates of this department is to transform the heritage landscape among others, build museums, build monuments.”
Many other local artists who do not fear voicing their opinions also shared their rage online including sports broadcaster Robert Marawa, Penny Lebyane, and JJ Tabane who interviewed the minister on eNCA last night.
However, veteran broadcaster Penny Lebyane begs to differ on Nathi Mthethwa’s defence as she claims that R22 Million can’t be a lot of money for a project that will outlive many of us. She furthermore detailed that she will wear the flag with pride where ever she goes in her lengthy tweet. Penny wrote, “Obviously @NathiMthethwaSA is not liked by a whole industry that hates itself so nothing new there for me. But l have a question. How did they build your favorites The Eiffel Tower in Parys, Statue Of Liberty in New York, Christ The Redeemer in Rio De Janeiro? Why do u like them?”
Obviously @NathiMthethwaSA is not liked by a whole industry that hates itself so nothing new there for me. But l have a question. How did they build your favorites The Eiffel Tower in Parys, Statue Of Liberty in NewYork, Christ The Redemeer in Rio De Janeiro? Why do u like them?
— PennyLebyane💚PennyLebyaneDotAfrica (@PennyLebyane) May 18, 2022
The radio and television presenter continued to write, “You will say I'm paid to ask this, let me free u I am not. Even @Silapha_ l understand the magnitude of the SA arts. Personally, l don’t hate the minister l just work, make the best of every situation or opportunity for myself & l will wear a SA dress/Flag anywhere in the”
The same Ernegy on hating #NathiMthetwa by “people” claiming to care about South African Creative industry collectively must show in their commitment at the smallest personal level to be the change they wanna see. Not when u are affected personally or it’s your friends. 🤮🚮
— PennyLebyane💚PennyLebyaneDotAfrica (@PennyLebyane) May 18, 2022
Although getting some backlash from her opinions, Penny closed of in saying, “The same Energy on hating #NathiMthetwa by “people” claiming to care about South African Creative industry collectively must show in their commitment at the smallest personal level to be the change they wanna see. Not when u are affected personally or it’s your friends.”
