Nigerian Artists Receiving Covid Relief Grant Spark Anger In South Africa

Artists and sports professionals were paid on average between R10,000 (N880,000) and R20,000 (N1,8 million) during South Africa’s two-year Covid-19 restrictions which left many professionals cash-strapped.

The sport, arts and culture department published names of artists and sports professionals who benefited financially from the department’s Covid-19 relief measures.

More than 3,000 beneficiaries, including companies, were listed.

Gayton McKenzie, the new coalition Minister of Sports, Arts & Culture (and leader of the anti-immigration party Patriotic Alliance) announced the publication of the list on Wednesday.

THE NIGERIAN CONTROVERSY

South Africans on X (Twitter) are curious as to why a few Nigerian artists were listed as some of the beneficiaries of the COVID-19 relief fund.

Social media wants answers as to why some of the beneficiaries of the COVID-19 relief fund were not only South African artists.

A netizen by the @1st_putsans asked the minister why the list included Nigerian artists.

“Why is our money sponsoring Nigerian artists?”

One of the people listed is saxophonist and Afro-soul artist Adetola John Aina, also known as Ola Sax, who received R20,000 (N1,8 million).

Minister Gayton McKenzie reacted to the list, and he too, was interested in knowing why these artists were granted the money. In his response, Gayton said his department would interrogate why and how the Nigerian artists were granted the funds and the criteria used.

“I would also love to know that. I am waiting for all lists to be published TODAY!!, we shall interrogate names, reasons & criteria. Thanks.”