Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has come out guns blazing after being accused of exploiting the death of legendary actress Nandi Nyembe for publicity.
In a blistering social media post, McKenzie detailed the financial and personal support he claims to have given the Nyembe family and warned those “chasing cameras” to stop spreading lies about him.
“I will not take this abuse,” the minister wrote in a lengthy post he published on social media platforms Facebook and X.
“Upon hearing about the plight of Mam’ Nandi Nyembe, I immediately sent her R20,000 for food and medication.
“When she passed, I took the first flight out of Cape Town to comfort her family. I also ensured her body was moved from the mortuary to the parlour and gave the children R10 000 for catering as visitors came to mourn.”
Paying for the funeral
McKenzie said he also made his driver available to transport the family throughout the difficult week and appointed a team member with funeral experience to assist daily.
He stressed that the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture was footing the full funeral bill and providing venues.
But his message didn’t end there. The Patriotic Alliance president lashed out at “artists who were nowhere to be seen when Mam’ Nandi needed help” but have now “appeared in front of cameras to lambast me and spread lies”.
He went further, citing how he personally intervened in the dire living conditions of veteran actor Glen Gabela last week.
“I dispatched a team to renovate his home, bought him furniture, and gave him R10 000 for groceries,” McKenzie said. “We work day and night to change the plight of creatives.”
Nyembe’s memorial service on Thursday was supposed to be a dignified celebration of her illustrious acting career, but it turned into a fiery showdown when actress Lerato Mvelase unleashed her anger at the department.
The event, held at the Market Theatre on Thursday, honoured Mam’ Nandi, who died last week at age 75.
Empty promises
Yet, moments after Sibusiso Tsanyane delivered a speech on behalf of McKenzie, Mvelase stormed to the podium and tore into the government’s empty promises.
“Please do tell the minister that going forward, artists will no longer allow the department to come celebrate with us. We are not fighting the department.
“But we are fighting with the system that has been putting actors down our whole lives,” she declared to loud applause.
Mvelase went further, demanding real policy change instead of recycled speeches.
“I would have loved to hear a speech that speaks not on promises made by the minister but works on adjusting or changing the policies in place.
“How long must we hear the same speech? How long must we have the same engagements about the need for policy structures that are going to protect us as actors?
“It is a lullaby, what you said right now. And I can assure you wherever Mam’ Nandi is, her heart is not happy. I am not happy. We are not happy,” she said, her voice trembling.
While social media exploded with divided views, with some applauding his transparency and others calling his post “grandstanding”, Nyembe’s family firmly defended the minister during her memorial service on Thursday.
Family thanks McKenzie
Speaking on behalf of the family, her son Bongo Nyembe expressed gratitude: “The minister came through for us when we needed help the most.
“He made sure things moved quickly and supported us beyond expectation. For that, we thank him.”
The family’s words of appreciation appeared to shield McKenzie from some of the backlash, grounding his fiery statement in real support on the ground.
McKenzie insists his ministry is working tirelessly to change the conditions for artists, promising medical cover, funeral policies, and fair compensation through reforms such as the Copyright Amendment Bill and partnerships with platforms like TikTok.
“I cannot walk away from dire situations when I have the means to help,” he wrote. “You can try to paint me as uncaring, but the truth will stand.”
Also Read: Family defends minister Gayton McKenzie at Nandi Nyembe memorial
Lerato Mvelase tears into Gayton McKenzie at Nandi Nyembe memorial service
