Artists organisation, the Limpopo Artists movement (LAM), has lambasted the Limpopo government after the cast of a musical slept on the pavement in Pretoria on Monday night.
The cast of Pienaar the Musical was left stranded after the Limpopo department of arts and culture allegedly promised them accommodation during their week stay in Pretoria but dropped them in the last hour.
A total of 35 cast members aged between 19 and 40 had to seek refuge at a backroom in Thembisa, east of Johannesburg after midnight on Monday, where some slept in vehicles.
LAM provincial chairperson Mphoza Mashabela appealed to the department to rescue the cast and provide them with decent accommodation, saying they represent the province with their show at the State Theatre.
Mashabela said: “We are engaging with the artists and getting latest updates. At this point we can’t speculate.
“I received that social media post from LAM provincial coordinator, we believe the department will attend to the matter and rescue the artists.
“This sector must be treated with respect, same as other provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal. In Limpopo, we are still struggling with the support from provincial government.”
Sunday World understands that no support was granted to the cast as of Wednesday morning.
Show writer Precious Manaka said the group had to make means from their own pockets to fund a two-day stay at a hotel in Pretoria without any government assistance.
Meanwhile, other organisations including the Cultural and Creative Industries Guild of Africa (CCIGA) have offered to assist the cast with accommodation.
“We wish to clarify that as CCIGA, we are not taking sides in this matter. Our primary concern is the wellbeing of the artists who are currently in close proximity to our head offices,” it said.
In a gesture of support, CCIGA is prepared to provide accommodation in Midrand for 10 artists from the cast of “Pienaar the Musical”.
“Our intention is to ensure that these artists can concentrate on their important work as creatives.”
The Limpopo department of arts and culture has maintained that it is not true that it promised to provide accommodation for the cast.
Department’s spokesperson Pelane Phakgadi said the department cannot be held at ransom to procure accommodation for a team 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.”
