WeeklySA_AdminCANDID: Open letter to newly-appointed Minister urges him to clean up his department and stop making “rooky mistakes based on misinformation”…
By Ali Mphaki
Opera singer with “a heart of gold” Sibongile Mngoma never minces her words.
In an open letter sent to Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie this week, the silky-voiced Mngoma warns him to be wary of senior officials in his department allegedly feeding him with “inaccurate information”, urging him to work closely with the creatives.
Calling on Mckenzie to go on a total clean-up, Mngoma writes:”…If not, maybe do consider taking our advice because your officials are failing you and very soon, you and your deputy will face calls for your removal”.
Urging cooperation – not acrimony – between McKenzie and his constituency, Mngoma further elucidates;
“You said you wanted to learn. There are many people who are ready to support, carry, protect and nurture you as you become familiar with the landscape. Your officials are not those people. Get to know your constituents, in this case, creatives”.
On charting a way-forward, Mngoma reminds McKenzie “this is no longer about campaigning for elections. You have been elected and given a position that comes with responsibilities.
“In our world, our brands are our bread and butter. Tarnishing people’s reputations will alienate the people who should be on your side”.
What has prompted Mngoma’s cautionary letter is that MKenzie had ordered his department to provide a list of all artists who received funding during the recent Covid-19 times, and later released it to the public.
The compiled list, says Mngoma, is “the worst case of a bad job” she has ever seen.
“This is not the first case of an artist whose name was on the list but never received the funds claimed on the list. There are also artists whose names are absent from the lists who did receive funds”, she says.
Describing herself as a practising creative and someone who has experienced gimmicks from the department “even before your time”, Mngoma further cautions that tarnishing people’s reputations “will alienate the people who should be on your side”.
She adds: “You keep making rooky mistakes because either your officials are not being helpful or you are being deliberately dismissive. Now, that is not going to bode well for you”.
