It is a game of he said, she said between an arts centre and the Limpopo department of sport, arts and culture.
This after reports emerged in October that Limpopo actors spent a cold night on the pavements outside The South African State Theatre in Pretoria.
Even though the department holds that it did not promise the cast of Pienaar The Musical accommodation during their weeklong stay in Pretoria for the premiere of the show, the arts centre, which produced the show, insists that it did.
In a scathing statement sent to Sunday World, The Best Art Centre CEO Precious Manaka also refutes claims that the centre previously received R1-million from the government.
“First and foremost it is not a blatant lie as it is claimed to be, that the department promised to procure accommodation for Pienaar The Musical theatre production that was scheduled to perform at The South African State Theatre,” she wrote.
“It is not true that over the years including 2023, Pienaar The Musical has been funded by government to over R1-million.
“Firstly, Pienaar The Musical is a new production that has never received funding from any funding source.”
She added that the centre has never received support from the provincial government since its inception.
“It is unacceptable for the department to mention that the National Arts Council and other institutions have funded the production.
“The Best Art Centre has received funding and support over the years for previous projects which were implemented, concluded and of course it is for this reason the art centre is still functional.”
Manaka said the allegations are unfounded, adding that the centre is waiting for an invitation to a meeting with the department to iron out their issues.
In October, the cast of Pienaar The Musical was left stranded when the department allegedly failed to keep its promise to provide accommodation for cast members.
A total of 35 cast members aged between 19 and 40 had to seek refuge at a backroom in Thembisa, east of Johannesburg. Some of the cast members slept in the cars.
The department maintains that it is not true that it promised to provide accommodation for the cast.
Pelane Phakgadi, spokesperson for the department, said it cannot be held at ransom to procure accommodation for a group that left the province without having had prior agreement with the department.
“Firstly, to deal with allegations of a ‘promise’ made by the department in relation to the accommodation is a blatant lie, and safe to say only a request has been made without having been approved,” said Phakgadi.
“The department does not fund artists’ organisations.”
