‘’If You Have no Savings you are Screwed’’ — South African Artists Lament

South African Artists have taken to Social Media to criticize the Government for lack of plans during the COVID-19 pandemic era.

Earlier this week, few ministers, including the minister of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa, asked South Africans on Twitter to partake in a #LockdowngymChallenge.

Mister Minister, I have been tweeting you for days about rent & bond freezes with no answer from you, @PresidencyZA, @tito_mboweni or the banks. Our entire sector has collapsed. It is month end. There are no gigs. We need a cohesive plan & vision from you for the arts. Not this🙏🏾 https://t.co/PS5AANYoSD		

			

				

					

											

											

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— Bessie’s Head (@lebomashile) March 31, 2020
 

In light of the Twitter trend, a number of South African artists expressed their disappointment in the government. For instance, while responding to Mthethwa’s tweet, revered poet and TV personality, Lebo Mashile retorted and asked the minister and the rest of the government why they hadn’t frozen monthly financial commitments such as bonds and rent for artists.

She added, ‘’Our entire sector has collapsed. It is month end. There are no gigs. We need a cohesive plan and vision from you for the arts. Not this.’’