A company that is responsible for the wellbeing of South African artists, Workforce Healthcare, has failed to submit annual returns to the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission for 2024.
Workforce Health was appointed in 2023 by Zizi Kodwa, the former minister of sports, arts, and culture.
Workforce Healthcare was tasked with the responsibility of helping artists with their mental health, financial management, substance abuse, and legal advice, among other things.
Back then, it was alleged that the company received about R18-million from the department.
At the time, Kodwa stated: “There is a critical need for those who engage in the creative and sporting fields, many of whom do not have permanent employment or healthcare support for counselling services, education, and community support around wellbeing matters that heavily impact them.
“We have lost too many valuable people within the creative and sports communities, as they simply did not have access to the support that they needed. One life lost is one too many.”
Life management skills
At the launch of this project, the spokesperson for the department, Zimasa Velaphi, stated: “According to the department, the campaign has been designed to assist South African sportsmen and cultural and creative practitioners to manage emotional, spiritual, physical, and psychological challenges that they face in their professional and personal lives.
“It further aims to enable them with capabilities such as life management skills, financial management, mental health management, substance abuse, and legal advice.”
An artist who preferred to remain anonymous said he was not surprised by the non-compliance of Workforce Healthcare.
“Personally, I don’t know anyone who’s received assistance from this project, yet artists continue to die in distress,” said the concerned artist.
“When this project was introduced, we raised concerns, but the minister didn’t listen.”
They are not helping artists
Another artist who also asked not to be mentioned for fear of reprisals said: “We’ve actually forgotten about this project mainly because we don’t know what they’re doing.
“They’re simply not helping artists, yet the government keeps pumping money into their pockets. This non-compliance is not surprising. If they can’t sort their own problems, then how are they going to help artists?”
The Silapha project was initially introduced by the former minister of sports, arts, and culture, Nathi Mthethwa, as a pilot project in 2021.
At the time, Indingliz Advertising & Marketing was awarded the tender to the tune of R15-million.
A list of questions was sent to the department and Workforce Healthcare, but they both failed to respond. Their comments will be included in the story when they have responded.
