- dailynews.co.za - Entertainment - 10/07/2024 09:20

Makhadzi vs Gayton McKenzie: Department paid artist over R230,000 in past year for gigs

The BET Award-winning singer Makhadzi, who recently opened up about a lack of support from government for her recent trip to the US, bagged over R230,000 in performance fees from the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture in the past 14 months. This has been revealed by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture after its minister Gayton McKenzie ordered artists, sports stars and creatives who received funding from the department be named publicly, with the reasons and the amounts thereof. Makhadzi was the first artist to be named on Tuesday night. In a statement, the department addressed the queries regarding Makhadzi's utterances in an interview on Podcast and Chill that she received no support from the department towards her trip to Los Angeles for the BET Awards, where she received the Best New International Act.“DSAC strongly rejects the assertion that it has not supported Makhadzi. Over the past 14 months, Makhadzi has been booked by DSAC to perform in several national engagements, receiving as much as R230,000.”Media StatementDepartment of Sport, Arts and Culture has noted the public reaction that followed the recent instruction by Minister Gayton McKenzie, for the Department to publish names of creatives & athletes who have received money from the Department#InspiringANationOfWinners pic.twitter.com/zO0erOJCmr— Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (@SportArtsCultur) July 9, 2024 Makhadzi in a Facebook live hit back at the statement, which she felt portrayed her as someone who had unfittingly benefited from the government whereas she was booked to perform and earned her money.“The whole country is waiting for people, who were eating money to be revealed, and they are failing and they are starting with me and I never ate any cent. “They feel I am quiet, I can't speak for myself, they are taking advantage of me… They have to use me as an example. I can't allow that,” said an emotional Makhadzi.“I didnt eat any money, they must reveal the people that ate the money for the department, they must reveal the real names of the people that were funded unlawfully…. “I’ve been doing a lot of things that need funding and no one has been funding me and I was okay with that, I never said anything.”Makhadzi went on to say that she wants money from bookings as she goes to the studio and works hard to make music. “I don’t want free money, I was just telling my truth.”IOL Entertainment