Gayton McKenzie skips Mapaputsi’s memorial service
Minister of the Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, faces criticism for not attending the memorial service of legendary musician Mapaputsi, real name Sandile Ngwenya.
The Kwaito legend passed away last week, and he was honoured by fans and industry colleagues. Artists who attended the memorial service, held at Eyethu Shopping Centre in Soweto, expressed their disappointment at the Minister’s absence.
“We all know the focus has shifted from Kwaito singers to pop, amapiano, Afrobeats, and other genres. Some artists haven’t performed on stage in two decades and rely on social relief grants like amaR350. They are struggling,” one source stated.
Renowned music producer Squire Arnold Nododile, known as Squire-4-Hyre, added, “If the department supported these initiatives consistently, Mapaputsi might still be with us today.”
He continued, “We have programmes to address our issues, but the department needs to give us the platform to engage. They cannot create solutions from boardrooms without consulting us about our challenges and proposed solutions.”
