Brandfort Artists forced to beg Arts and Culture for payment

Staff Reporter

Bloemfontein – The Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation forces local artists to beg for money that is rightfully owed to them.

A group of 14 artists from Winnie Mandela Town (formerly Brandfort) say they have still not been paid for performances rendered during the launch of a book honouring the late stalwart.

WATCH

Today marks six months since they delivered their services, yet payment continues to evade them like basic service delivery in many communities.

If one assumes they are owed millions, the reality may be even more shocking, some artists submitted invoices as low as R500, but the department has still failed to settle those amounts.

Frustration has reached boiling point, with some artists resorting to Facebook in an attempt to track down officials responsible for processing payments.

A WhatsApp message seen by this publication paints a picture of endless promises and repeated delays.

On 2 March 2026, Barry Swanepoel told artists that he was “90% done” with the paperwork, whatever that was meant to imply.

Meanwhile, Kgotso Tlhapi is said to have assured them they would be paid by 27 March 2026. Two months later, ha hona nko hotswa lemina, there is still nothing to show for those promises.

Artists say they now feel disrespected, exploited and forgotten by a department meant to uplift and support the creative sector.

This is the second time Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation under MEC Zanele Sifuba delay payments of artists after clap and tap.

A clear definition of Greedocracy: Government of the greedy, for the greedy and by the greedy.

Mathae’s government is collapsing everything.

Barry Swanepoel didn’t respond to our questions instead referred this publication to the HOD.

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