Local artists are preparing to march against the Minister of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), Gayton McKenzie, demanding the release of the MGE (Mzansi Golden Economy) results.
At the forefront of the upcoming march are Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa (CCIFSA), South African Music Industries Council (SAMIC), South African Arts and Culture Youth Forum (SAACYF), the South African Association of Arts Administration (SAAA), Cystahood, the Cultural and Creative Industries Guild of Africa (CCIGA), and TUMSA, to mention a few.
Scheduled for Union Buildings
The march is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 14 May, starting at 8am. It will begin at the Union Buildings Park and proceed to the DSAC offices on Madiba Street, Pretoria.
CCIFSA national coordinator and one of the march organisers, Luzuko Khohli, released a statement to Sunday World. It reads as follows:
“The broader South African Cultural and Creative Industries, represented by a wide range of organisations, associations, and independent practitioners, hereby announces a peaceful march to the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC).
“This collective action arises from ongoing challenges and unanswered concerns relating to the Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) funding initiative. Despite repeated efforts to seek dialogue, including several letters sent to Minister Gayton McKenzie between February and March 2025, no formal engagement has been secured.
Not a political act
“This march is not a political act. It is a united, peaceful demonstration of our shared demand for respect, transparency, and equitable support within our sector. We believe that effective development of the cultural and creative industries must be rooted in open communication, inclusive policy, and the meaningful involvement of its stakeholders.
“Key concerns include the failure to release MGE results. A large number of applicants who submitted proposals by the 10 January 2025 deadline have received no formal communication regarding outcomes. While a few applicants have been informed, many received abrupt cancellations without any explanation. This lack of consistency and transparency threatens the morale of artists. It …also threatens the job creation potential that MGE funding was intended to unlock.
“The unilateral cancellation of MGE application calls without stakeholder consultation has left many practitioners disempowered. This undermines trust and silences the very voices the department should be engaging with.
Conflicting messages
“The department’s communication strategy has relied primarily on media statements. With little direct outreach to applicants. Conflicting messages such as the 7 March 2025 media release suggesting old applications would be considered. Followed by new guidelines on 20 March requiring resubmissions, have caused widespread confusion. Many practitioners, especially those in remote or underserved areas, have been left without critical updates.
“Additionally, the requirement to prove additional income contradicts the very purpose of public funding. It discriminates against those already facing economic hardship. Especially community-based, informal, and emerging artists. These gaps point to a need for both legal clarity and policy reform within DSAC’s funding mechanisms.”
