Thami AkaMbongo Manzana: Will you hear the cries of the cultural and creative sector?

There is a sound echoing across South Africa that cannot be ignored – it is the cry of the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI). It is not a cry of entitlement, but a cry for fairness, transparency, and recognition. It is a cry rooted in love for country, for art, and for the millions whose lives are deeply connected to the pulse of this sector.

At the centre of this cry lies the Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) – a funding programme once meant to uplift and empower creatives, but which now stands as a symbol of frustration and exclusion for many.

Despite numerous formal letters and appeals sent to the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), no official response has been received. The silence is deafening. And in the face of this silence, the sector grows more anxious, more discouraged, and more disillusioned.

How can we build a better South Africa while ignoring the very voices that colour our national identity, document our history, and imagine our future?

Minister McKenzie, you have often spoken of cutting red tape and rebuilding trust between the government and the people.

Here lies your test. The concerns raised are not vague. They are clear and urgent:

Release the outcomes for those who applied to MGE, as was done with Touring Ventures.

Expand drop-off locations for manual submissions to accommodate creatives across provinces.

Introduce an online application option to ensure accessibility and fairness.

Stop excluding registered NPCs who do not have Social Development certificates – a requirement not prescribed by the Companies Act.

Respond to the sector’s letters and open genuine dialogue with concerned organisations.

This isn’t about personal attacks or political grandstanding – it’s about policy and people. It’s about those who rehearse under bridges, who perform in dusty town halls, who teach young minds in rural arts centres, and who heal through stories, dance, and music.

Art is not a luxury. It is a necessity. It is how we remember who we are and how we dream of what we could become.

The lack of response from DSAC isn’t just poor administration – it’s a denial of dignity to the many who rely on this sector for their livelihood.

The countdown to 10 – 12 April 2025, the MGE application drop-off dates, is ticking – and still, no answers.

The sector has followed all the correct channels: letters to DSAC, to the Portfolio Committee in Parliament, and even to the Presidency. Yet, the wall of silence remains unshaken.

What more must artists do to be heard?

Minister, you have the power to shift the narrative. You have the power to listen. And in doing so, you can become the Minister who didn’t just speak about change, but who embodied it.

We urge you:

Don’t let history record that we cried, and you turned away.

#ArtistsForArtists
#ArtistsLivesMatter
#Im4theArts
#MzansiGoldenEconomy
#HearUsMinister

Thami AkaMbongo Manzana
akambongo@gmail.com
AkaMbongo Foundation Pty Ltd
http://www.akambongo.co.za

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Thami AkaMbongo Manzana writes on his personal capacity.