Some artists and companies are still waiting to be paid for their services at the Eastern Cape Entertainment Star Awards festival in November.
The four-day event in East London – organised by actor Tazz Nginda and his partner Mandla Makwela – has left Eastern Cape artists, such as Slique Angel, without their performance purse.
“We initially agreed on R43,000. He tried to negotiate a decrease but I refused. I was already doing him a favour by charging that amount.
“We heard he [Nginda] had received payment from BCM, but we were not paid our money. It is upsetting as he knows this is how artists make a living. We have children and other commitments.
“They are quick to communicate when they want to call in favours, but when it is time to pay, you hardly ever get hold of them,” the Amantongomane singer said.
Another artist, Dumza Maswana, said: “I have not been paid for my services, but Mr Nginda and his business partners have been updating me.”
Empire Events founder Belinda van der Walt said her company offered services, such as getting permits to allow the festival to continue, ensuring that the festival abided by municipal laws, and security services for the 2016 and 2018 festivals.
Empire is owed R72,000 dating back to 2016.
“It is not fair that we give our all yet have to beg to get our money. It is high time BCM awards these tenders to locals and stops giving it to people from outside,” she said.
Siphesande Nogoduka’s company Society Brands was in charge of sound and production in 2016 and 2018. They have not been paid for either.
“We also shot the show for them. Needless to say the payment was never made. Tazz gave excuse after excuse and all the groups that worked there – from the camera crew to the production team – never got paid,” Nogoduka said.
Nginda denied keeping the company’s creditors in the dark, but acknowledged he had not honoured all payments in full.
“Only 70% of what was agreed on by the council was released and therefore I had to prioritise suppliers who I knew had a lot of people under them. I called everyone and explained what happened and asked for their go-ahead to pay a portion of what we owed them.
“The event did not make money and we relied solely on funding. We applied for R4m and the day before the event, we were told we were approved for R600,000.”
BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said to ensure value for money, BCM resolved to paying 70% upfront and the remainder after the show.
The balance would be paid after a close-out report detailing whether funding recipients had delivered on everything that had been agreed upon...