While the majority of artists support Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC) Minister Gayton McKenzie’s efforts to hold individuals accountable, many feel that shutting down the Downtown Music Hub (DTMH) institution was a drastic measure.
They also believe the investigation should be extended to officials within the DSAC.
Thami Mbongo, an arts activist and creative, said: “We appreciate the minister’s effort. As the industry, we also want transparency and accountability. But we are concerned that we might not see results. We’re used to these investigations, but we never see the outcome. This is because the rot lies within his own department.
“If the minister is serious about the arts, he needs to start from within. As an industry, we’d also appreciate it if he kept us updated on the status of these investigations.”
Probe outcome still expected
Joy Mbewana, president of the Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa (CCIFSA), expressed sadness.
“This is a sad day in the history of the South African creative industry. The closure of DTMH cannot be celebrated. As a sector, we don’t have much,” she said.
“We appreciate the fight against corruption. However, shutting down institutions meant to empower artists will not solve any problems. This decision will negatively affect both artists and the employees of this institution.”
Eugene Mthethwa, Parliamentarian and EFF member, welcomed the closure.
“As a member of parliament representing the EFF, we welcome the minister’s decision to terminate the wasteful spending on [DTMH), which was poorly conceived from the beginning,” he said.
Sad, tragic for artists
“Shame on all officials for their misguided efforts to cover up the ANC’s miscalculated move. A move led by then-Minister Pallo Jordan, who prematurely presented DTMH as the ‘Motown of South Africa’. As a result, DSAC continued to falsely report DTMH as a success over the years.
“We appreciate the decision to cut funding and save taxpayers’ money. But we now await the minister’s announcement on how he will deal with the officials responsible for misleading the public and wasting public funds.”
Artist Sbongile Mngoma described the decision as tragic.
“No one wanted to take responsibility for too long, and in the end, politics won. Artists always suffer.”
On Thursday, June 5, DTMH CEO Nompumelelo Mabuza issued an urgent notice to stakeholders. She informed employees, tenants, and freelancers about the entity s closure.
Staff, stakeholders informed
“As many of you are aware, Downtown Music Hub is an NGO that has been funded and supported by the [DSCA] since its inception. However, for the 2025/2026 financial year, DTMH has not received its expected funding allocation. This… has significantly impacted our ability to maintain normal operations and fulfil financial commitments,” she wrote.
“Due to the significant delay in funding and the subsequent water and electricity cuts to the building, it is with heavy hearts that the Board and Management have decided to suspend operations. The building will be closed until further notice.
“We regret to confirm that staff members, freelancers, and current tenants will be vacating the building on Friday, 6 June 2025. It is no longer operationally or morally feasible to continue under these uncertain and unsupported conditions.
Hope for a resolution
“Please be assured that this decision was not taken lightly. It stems from a genuine cash flow constraint caused by delays in national budget finalisation. We are actively engaging with DSAC to seek urgent clarity and support. And we remain hopeful that a resolution will be reached soon.
“We understand the inconvenience this may cause and deeply appreciate your continued support and patience during this difficult period. It is our sincere hope that things will return to normal and we will be able to resume our duties.”
It is still not clear what the next step is going to be regarding the entity, beyond its closure.
