!” sprang to life in 1957 in Gqeberha as the campaign cry of oppressed South African Congress of Trade Unions workers under apartheid. It spread rapidly.
This playbook was, until recently, live at the National Arts Council offices downtown in Johannesburg’s Newtown precinct, with sympathy protests countrywide. The 60-day sit-in by global singer Sibongile Mngoma and other artists demanded accountability for R300-million that Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa admitted had “gone missing” from the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme .
Pallo Jordan resigned in disgrace after having lied about having a PhD. Lulama Xingwana bulldozed through five major controversies before Zuma replaced her with alleged “Alexandra mafia” boss Paul Mashatile . There has been no official sector policy for 27 years. Cultural workers and professionals who contributed to the White Paper process were largely dismissed, but they fought back to create an impasse until a better policy was devised.
The arts sector brings in R62-billion or 1.7% of GDP , but provides 6.9% of the total workforce, representing more than a million workers. With tourism, that is R487-billion or 9.9% of GDP. Mining contributed only R351-billion or 6.8% to GDP , with not even half a million employees. Agriculture brings in only R127.69-billion or 2.5% of GDP .