Sibongile Mngoma Protests At The National Arts Council Over R300m Presp Money

Sibongile Mngoma Protests At The National Arts Council Over R300m Presp Money. Opera singer Sibongile Mngoma has took it upon herself to stage a sit-in at the National Arts Council (NAC) offices in Newtown, Johannesburg; demanding answers about the presidential employment stimulus programme (Pesp) after the NAC council suspended CEO Rosemary Mangope and CFO Clifton Changfoot in relation to a pending investigation of the R300m Pesp money management.

The star said she was looking for the list of people who signed the contract for the Pesp, and the people who have gotten their letters but still not signed a contract. In a video posted earlier, Sibongile was heard saying: “Why do you ask me to send an e-mail when I am here at this office. What I’m looking for are simple things.”

South Africa’s famous poet Mzwakhe Mbuli was also there in support of Sibongile. He said: “I am here to support Sibongile. I’m convinced that at Codesa there was no arts and culture on the agenda hence there are so many problems. People thought under apartheid as we were struggling that the doors of arts and culture shall be opened as promised in the Freedom Charter. But it is very clear that it was just talk. There is nothing representing artists in the constitution. It does not speak to us and does not protect us. Artists have challenges and grievances that range from royalties to airplay, royalties and funding. There is so much affecting people in the arts fraternity. Sibongile recently lost her aunt, she is supposed to be mourning but she is compelled to take to the street because of the injustices in the country.”

Marketing and publicist at NAC Thola Petla said: “We would like to engage with anybody and listen to their problems or grievances but we did not receive a communication from her that she was coming. If she communicated with us we could have organised management and council so that they can listen to her. We are always open for communication. “

Mngoma also plans to visit the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), SA Music Rights Organisation (Samro), and the department of sport, arts and culture.