Artists and sports professionals were paid on average between R10,000 (N880,000) and R20,000 (N1,8 million) during South Africa's two-year Covid-19 restrictions which left many professionals cash-strapped.

The sport, arts and culture department published names of artists and sports professionals who benefited financially from the department's Covid-19 relief measures.

More than 3,000 beneficiaries, including companies, were listed.

Gayton McKenzie, the new coalition Minister of Sports, Arts & Culture (and leader of the anti-immigration party Patriotic Alliance) announced the publication of the list on Wednesday.


THE NIGERIAN CONTROVERSY

South Africans on X (Twitter) are curious as to why a few Nigerian artists were listed as some of the beneficiaries of the COVID-19 relief fund.

Social media wants answers as to why some of the beneficiaries of the COVID-19 relief fund were not only South African artists.

A netizen by the @1st_putsans asked the minister why the list included Nigerian artists.

"Why is our money sponsoring Nigerian artists?"

One of the people listed is saxophonist and Afro-soul artist Adetola John Aina, also known as Ola Sax, who received R20,000 (N1,8 million).

Minister Gayton McKenzie reacted to the list, and he too, was interested in knowing why these artists were granted the money. In his response, Gayton said his department would interrogate why and how the Nigerian artists were granted the funds and the criteria used.

"I would also love to know that. I am waiting for all lists to be published TODAY!!, we shall interrogate names, reasons & criteria. Thanks."

helinues:
Corruption everywhere

helinues:
Corruption everywhere

0001Lagos:

It is corruption to you because they didn't mention tinubu. If they had mentioned tinubu, you would say it's not corruption.

FaceTanke:
There is love in sharing... One love

Do you know how many west africans live and thrive freely in Nigeria and they get help

immortalcrown:
Why the anger? Don't those Nigerians pay taxes in SA?

helinues:


stop struggling on my mentions. It's not a must you attack my comments everyday.

What exactly is wrong with the comments you are attacking now?

Wondering if na lack of self respect dey make you to be behaving like this on this forum

RichBoy247:



This may not be corruption, foreigners in US and Europe also received same, so why can't Nigerians living in South Africa not receive?

Melagros:
COMRADES, I don't know why South Africans hate Nigerians

gistray:
Africa is a failed continent

Lionessza6:


LMFAO. They get help in what when the Nigerian government cant even help it's citizens?

FaceTanke:

Most of the beggars u see on Nigerian streets are not even Nigerians...

Lionessza6:


LMFAO. Right!!!! . So they get monthly government cheques?

FaceTanke:


They get help

Lionessza6:


What kind of help does your government offer them ?

FaceTanke:


Assylum

Hhansome:
South Africa again?

Lionessza6:


No they do not.

Lionessza6:


What about South Africa?

PressMyButton:

Yes, they do. It was benefits to artistes and sport professionals. A few of the beneficiaries were nigerians earning a living and paying taxes in south africa, unless you wanna argue blindly there ain't artistes and sport professionals of nigerian descent legally making a living in south africa.

Melagros:
COMRADES, I don't know why South Africans hate Nigerians

Lionessza6:


No one would complain about sport professionals like Nwabali who pay taxes in South Africa, the issue is with random artists who cannot prove their source of income apart from the fact that they're" artists" . Foreign artists don't have tax numbers in SA unless if they are PR holders, Davido can't come to SA during a crisis and claim benefits, he has to feed himself as a visitor here or go back home if he has no means , otherwise we will end up being the charity case of abandoned African artists . We need clarity on their status in South Africa and on what basis they were given the same treatment as the native artists.

PressMyButton:

It's your prerogative to demand their status under which they were given benefits but it would be myopic of you to make conjectures without facts. From the report, they're professionals from sport and music industry entitled to the benefits unless proven otherwise.

OriOko88:

So south Africans also do name checking like Nigeria. We blame the Europeans for being racists,but the level of tribalism, chauvinism, nepotism in Africa towards each other is unimaginable. If the whites express one quarter of Africa tribalism,I swear not a single person will step in Europe not to talk to earning a living there.

My sister living in Indiana got about $4500 for covid relief in 2021, and not a single eye brow was raised about her origin,same as my friend in Genoa Italy. But common small rands to Nigerian in southy some citizens there are going on rampage,even the shameful Minister saying he would find out. Lord