Evil deed ’ sinks choral awards
KZN GOVERNMENT BLAMED FOR NO-SHOW
A FAILURE to fund the National Annual Choral Music Awards (Nacma) by the government of KwaZulu-Natal led to the awards being cancelled in Durban at the very last minute.
Guests arrived from as far afield as Denmark, Norway, Kenya, Nigeria and other South African cities in their finery on Saturday night only to learn that the event would not be going ahead as planned.
Awards founder Vusi Mvelase lashed out at the officials at the dinner at Elangeni Hotel, for what he called an “evil deed”. He said they delayed releasing the funds, impacting on the organising of the ceremony that is now in its fourth year.
The provincial government had been funding it since its establishment in 2012.
Mvelase said the decision by the office of the premier to direct the KZN department of arts and cul- ture to take control of the funding caused complications.
“The department had brought some delays in planning the ceremony by delaying depositing some funds,” he said.
“According to a three-year signed contract with government, it was clear that we will be receiving R5-million funding per year. As far as we’re concerned the funding ends this year.”
Mvelase was adamant that things were going smoothly when funding came directly from the premier’s office. He was also shocked that no government official showed up at the dinner to represent the provincial government. He said they didn’t even bother sending an apology. Last year president Jacob Zuma was one of the VIP guests.
“Nacma was established to celebrate and honour choral music stars, who were being ignored.
“I can fully suggest that the department is holding us back and standing in our way of organising the ceremony. This brings difficulties, because we have to book those artists as early as possible.”
Mvelase said he would work with arts and culture department to organise the awards on December 6 at the Durban ICC.
Departmental spokesman Lethukuthula Mtshali failed to respond to queries by the time of going to print as did Mluleki Mtungwa, spokesman for MEC Ntobikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha.