“KGOTHULE LACKS VISION FOR THE ARTS”

Leading international actor and writer, Mpho Lovinga has accused sports, arts, culture, and recreation MEC, Dan Kgothule of lacking vision and slammed his department for failing to support local artists.

Lovinga joins a long list of artists who have complained about the Kgothule and his department’s consistent failure to support and provide opportunities to Free State artists. The artists who are irritated with what they describe as Kgothule’s lack of consultation and “arrogance” come from across the arts sector. They include musicians, poets, actors, writers and directors.

The talented actor, who has featured in award winning local and international films, has blasted Kgothule for making empty promises to the local arts sector and flip-flopping on his commitments.

“During the budget vote early this year, the MEC delivered a well-written script I must say, which suggested that the MEC had a vision, he has been found wanting when it comes to implementation.”

“I think the department is failing us by not involving us in its programmes; nothing for us without us. After last year’s Macufe a lot of promises were made; the vision was to have our local artists dominate this year’s festival, but all of a sudden they backtracked on their word,” said Lovinga.

He said Macufe, which started midweek, has consistently failed to empower local artists, poets, and musicians.

“Macufe is run by people who do not even practice the arts; they forget about the artists and all they care about is self-enrichment. For artists to be featured on the programme, you have to know someone, and even when we perform we are sent back home with a t-shirt and a food parcel.”

“I think we are at a stage where personal issues are getting in our way of prospering. What I want to see in the institution is more developments. Why is it that every year artists from outside are the main acts? Are we saying we do not have quality work in the province?” queried Lovinga.

After unsuccessful attempts to forge working links with artists, the department established the Free State Arts and Culture Association (FSACA), which was envisaged to help the department to properly engage with artists in the province in a coordinated way. However, nothing fruitful has come out of it to date.

Meanwhile, local poet, Sipho Mnyakeni, feels the buzz around promoting home-grown talent died when Premier Ace Magashule was the MEC of sports, arts and culture.
According to Mnyakeni, Kgothule department has failed to maintain Magashule’s legacy of providing adequate support to local artists. He also criticised the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State (Pacofs) for losing its spark.

“With such a huge investment in Pacofs infrastructure, one would have expected the institution to be a hub of artistic activity that pervades other towns.”

“There was a time when there was a buzz of activity at this centre that made artists believe there was hope, particularly when the premier was MEC of arts and culture. During that period, monthly poetry sessions would draw poets from the neighbouring towns. That is where present top poets of the province were groomed, like Icebound and Jah Rose,” said Mnyakeni.

“That buzz seems to have died down. The fact that poets abandoned such a structure and created their own poetry sessions in the township is evidence that Pacofs seems to be losing touch with the artists. A buzz only happens during Macufe, apparently,” he added.

Last year, artists such as Sweety from the local group, Khaya, and Masheleng also criticised Kgothule for failing to empower local artists and was instead awarding big event contracts to Gauteng-based artists, such as Mahoota
and Vetkoek.