Sport, arts and culture minister Nathi Mthethwa faces a backlash from the public over a plan to establish a R30m national orchestra.
The proposal for a new national orchestra is due to be announced today.
Details of the plan were revealed in a Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra Report 2021/2022.
According to Daily Maverick, the formation of a national philharmonic orchestra was included in the revised white paper on arts, culture and heritage approved by the cabinet in August 2018.
Speaking on Power 98.7, Mzansi Orchestra CEO Bongani Tembe said the orchestra would benefit musicians.
‘The idea of a national orchestra is not new for SA. We are reviving the national orchestra.
‘The implementation and establishment of the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra recognises the unique opportunity that the national orchestra represents for the transformation of the orchestral music in SA,’ said Tembe.
The white paper stated the department’s intention to “establish national theatre, dance, orchestral companies with youth components, each resident in a different province cross-subsidised by national, provincial and metro funding”.
Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra CEO Louis Heyneman said the project was unnecessary.
The country already had too many training programmes that develop young musicians.
‘We can’t afford it and we don’t need it. I think it’s a folly, a personal folly of [minister] Nathi Mthethwa.’
He said the plan was a waste of money, calling it ‘orchestra capture’.
‘There are no auditions done. They just invite whoever is on their list of players. They invite totally at random players to come and play for this orchestra. It’s a total duplication and a waste of money.’
The R30m proposal comes in the aftermath of Mthethwa’s plans to spend R22m on a 100metre-high “monumental” flag in May.
The comments on social media about the proposed orchestra were very mixed.