South Africa, Limpopo: The Member of the Executive Councils for Sport, Arts and Culture in Limpopo, Nakedi Kekana, met the Best Arts Centre and its Pienaars’ Cast.
The meeting took place on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. MEC Kekana promised to meet the group and engage in a fruitful interaction upon returning from the State Theatre.
As per the update shared by the Department of Sports, Art and Culture in Limpopo, the meeting started on Tuesday afternoon. The discussions about the future and development of performing arts went well into the early evening.
The meeting occurred on the heels of a claim that emerged last week from the Best Arts Centre and its Pienaars’ Cast.
The group claimed that it had been “dropped” by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. The allegation emerged because the Department allegedly failed to pay for the group’s accommodation in Pretoria.
The cast alleged that the Department did not support the group during its week-long performance at the SA State Theatre.
The Department later clarified that no prior arrangements were made concerning the accommodation request. According to the Department led by Nakedi Kekana, “That fact was agreed upon by both parties.”
During the meeting, which took place on Tuesday, October 17, the two parties discussed at length about performing arts and Theatre Genres.
MEC Kakena emphasized the need to transform the province’s performing arts and theatre genres. The Department seeks to achieve this mandate through the Limpopo Arts and Culture Council (LACC).
Additionally, she also reiterated that the performing arts have expression in the Annual Performance Plan adopted by the provincial government.
The Member of the Executive Councils for Sport, Arts and Culture in Limpopo claimed that the Department will continue to prioritize it. However, the priority should be done in line with government regulations and the operations model of the relevant statutory body.
The meeting was attended by the LACC led by its Chairperson, Simon Kekana, and the Limpopp DSAC Chief Director responsible for Arts and Cultural Affairs, Veronica Mokganyana. The meeting ended with a homogeneous approach to future relations.
