Picture: North West MEC of CATA, Ontlametse Mochware
BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
RESIDENTS of Taung will embark on a massive march on Friday in support of local artists. The artists alleged that they were excluded from Taung Cultural Calabash event that will be taking place on Sunday at Taung Sportground in Taung.
Greater Taung Artists Forum organisation (GTAF) coordinator, Modise ‘Disco’ Lebitse said the gathering will commence at the Hoax Sportground in Ditshilong village in Taung on Friday at 9am.
“We will embark on a protest in solidarity to our local artists. Taung Cultural Calabash has lost its meaning and value. The event was supposed to benefit the community of Taung. Most of our artists are excluded from the main event. We will march from Hoax Sportground to Mmabana Taung and hand over memorandum.
“We demand answers from the Mmabana Foundation and Culture, Art and Traditional Affairs department (CATA). As residents, we cannot sit back while the rights of our people are violated. We urge every citizen to join us in quest for justice and claiming what is rightfully ours,” Lebitse said.
He further said the event only benefit people from outside Taung.
Forum 4 Service Delivery (F4SD) also shared the same sentiments. F4SD spokesperson, Elias Mogoru said they are aggrieved as the people of Taung and the entire province. Mogoru said local event management companies as well as artists are constantly overlooked on the organising and performing in as far as the Taung Calabash is concerned.
“CATA MEC, Ontlametse Mochware blatantly lied to over 3 million Motsweding Fm listeners about the Calabash. (F4SD) would like to put it categorically clear that the company that is organising the Taung Cultural Calabash is none other than Mabala Noise, owned by the ANC Treasurer General, Reggie Nkabinde.
“This has turned to be ANC Cultural Calabash. F4SD would also like to place it on record that our artists have been ignored and excluded because the Taung Calabash has been reduced to yet another ANC’s ‘get rich quick’ scheme where our artists in the North West are crooked by the same government that promised people a “Better Life” since 1994,” Mogoru he said.
He further said the party noted the inclusion of some of North West artists. Mogoru added that platforms like the Taung Cultural Calabash were meant specifically for the development and support of artists in the province.
“What the main event line-up suggests to us is that criminals have decided to staff-ride the Calabash. The platform is no longer beneficial to the people of this province. Mochware told the nation green lies on the Motsweding Fm current affairs. She said she was only told that the organising company is from the North West.
“She refused to give the name of the organising company and said the caller must come to Taung Cultural Calabash on Sunday to get the name of company. Really MEC? You were ‘only told’? Now let’s tell you MEC that the company that is organising the ANC (Taung) Cultural Calabash is the Mabala Noise owned by Reggie Nkabinde, the ANC Treasurer General. Got it?,” Mogoru added.
He said they will write a letter to the MEC in terms of the Promotion of Administration Justice Act 3 of 2000. Mogoru said they will also challenge the MEC, Ontlametse Mochware and North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo in an open public engagement on this matter.
“We have evidence of wrongdoing by CATA under the watchful eye of the Premier as per his instructions. F4SD further calls upon residents of Taung and the province to boycott this ANC corrupt activity. When will it come to an end that artists in the province, have to leave for places like Johannesburg in search of opportunities?
“This is the reason why Cassper Nyovest has deserted this province. North West never made him, he made himself. We have artists who have previously won SATMAS and some are even nominees, artists that can perform in the main event, but they’ve been sidelined. This is again yet another reason why we advise people not to vote for ANC, a party that care less about those who votes for it,” he concludes.
The Guardian 