Question NW3430 to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
27 October 2022 - NW3430
Madlingozi, Mr BS to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
Following the video of the seventy-year-old veteran actor, Mr. Vusi Thanda, begging for financial assistance on social media, what steps has he taken to mitigate the embarrassing financial situation which thespians often find themselves in?
Reply:
This matter has over the years affected various creatives across all domains and genres. It could be attributed to the unfavourable contractual agreements between creatives and their employers and/or management, lack of financial management including tax and budgeting.
The Department has over the years supported and will continue supporting various initiatives to empower and educate creatives in these matters quite early in their careers to have a ‘soft landing’ during troubling times since their sector operates mainly on free lancing.
Over and above that, the Department has a Program that supports Living Legends Legacy Project; creatives over 70 years old and above.
In the last three years the department has also established a Silapha Wellness Program, which is an initiative geared towards sensitising the creatives about such challenges.