Kodwa splurged more than R10.7 million on nine artists

By Staff Reporter

Johannesburg – After spending more than R16 million on a one-day event to honour three Grammy Award winning musicians in April, the department of arts and culture also paid millions to seven artists and two music groups.

Zizi Kodwa’s department replied in the parliamentary questions that it had paid artists more than R6.2 million for winning Grammy Awards including R4.5 million paid to five unknown foundations.

All in all, the department had splashed a total of more than R10,7 million on artists and unknown foundations when the taxpayers’ money was disbursed.

DA’s spokesperson for sports, arts and culture, Tsepo Mhlongo posed questions to Kodwa on 17 May, where he demanded to know how much money the department paid as an incentive to the winners of the awards.

In his initial questions, Mhlongo demanded Kodwa to name each beneficiary and the amount paid to each artist.

He also asked for the date of the tender and amount, which resulted in a company called Abstract Group pocketing R16 497 000 for the tender that was not advertised to organize on a one-day event to honour the three Grammy Award-winning musicians in April.

The celebration gig was held to honour Zakes Bantwini, Nomcebo Zikode, Wouter Kellerman, whose song Bayethe scooped the prestigious global Grammy.
The department hosted a gala dinner at The Galleria in Woodmead, north of Joburg, where more than 300 people were invited to celebrate with the stars.
Responding to Mhlongo’s questions on Monday, Kodwa stated: “A total of R10 750 000 was paid for incentives.”

He tabled that his department has paid Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Soweto Gospel Choir an amount of R2 250 000 each, while stars such as Mama Miriam Makeba, DJ Black Coffee, John Lindemann, Lebo Morake, Nomcebo Zikode, Zakes Bantwini and Wouter Kellerman pocketed R250 000 each, with unknown foundations pocketing R4.5 million.
Kodwa also stated that there tender to get a service provider to host the event was never advertised which saw Abstract Group getting a more than R16 million one day gig.

“No tender was advertised as the department used its procurement sourcing strategy as per its SCM Policy which allows the department to appoint a panel of events management service providers for a period of 36 months. The panel of 48 service providers were appointed through the bidding process to render the events services for the department when required. The procurement process is done as per the event, by sourcing quotations from all 48 service providers. The quotations which are above a million rand are tabled at the Bid Adjudication Committee for adjudication and approval per departmental delegations.

“The winning quotation amount was R16 497 000.00 from the Abstract Group as the highest bidder, based on the Bid Adjudication Committee. No advertising agency and/or media house was used to advertise the specified tender. Request for Quotation (RFQ) was sent out to the panel of 48 contracted event suppliers on 6 April 2023 with a closing date of 12 April 2023,” said Kodwa.

Another company that submitted the quotation was Roadshow Marketing but it failed to clinch the contract.
When contacted by Step Up News, Mhlongo said:

“There are more questions which needed to be answered here as the Minister is not open with us. There is lack of transparency. We demand the department to supply us with a full list of these contracted event providers. We want to know when they were contracted and how. In addition, we want the department to supply proof that these so called 48 event providers were contacted to bid, as we want to see submitted bids.”

This is a developing story.