Cape Argus reports that Cape Town artists, creatives and performers had been expected take to the streets in artistic protest and in solidarity with artists from across the country in the ongoing protest against the mismanagement of funds meant to assist the entertainment industry, but they had to postpone their protest.

The "Day of Protest Art Performances“ had been set to take place at the Artscape Plaza to form part of the larger ongoing action of a sit-in at the National Arts Council of SA (NAC) offices in Newtown, Johannesburg. The Day of Protest Art Performances had to be postponed due to unrelated protest action in Cape Town, organisers said. “This is due to continuing and unrelated protest action across transport routes that places artists and supporters travelling to the city centre in danger,” they indicated. The Day of Protest Art Performances is now expected to take place on Saturday. Several artists have occupied the NAC offices since 3 March over the mismanagement, misappropriation and slow dispersion of relief funding meant for artists in the form of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP). The NAC is managing the distribution of the PESP, amounting to R300 million, on behalf of the national Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. Renowned opera singer Sibongile Mngoma, who is leading the peaceful protest, said there were currently around 20 artists sitting-in at the Joburg offices. A meeting was held on Friday with Minister Nathi Mthethwa, which Mngoma said had been pointless owing to the minister’s ill-preparedness.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Shakirah Thebus at Cape Argus

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