On Saturday, 28 October was meant to be the big day for local groups of Youth Gospel Singers taking part in a Talent Show leading up to Mvuselelo Gospel Extravaganza to be held in East London in December.
But that event which was to showcase the talent of 22 local groups, has been postponed indefinitely, according to Samora Ngxala, one of the event organisers.
Further, Mphumezi Mesani, from the Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC), cancelled auditions that should have been held last week (15 October) at Dakawa Community Art Centre, in an email sent to organisers four days before the event,
The events didn’t take place due to a lack of communication between Makana Municipality and the DSRAC, according to Ngxala.
It remains to be seen whether the local young people, who have been preparing for months, and some for years, will be ready and able to attend the 9 December extravaganza at East London’s Orient Theatre. The event is organised by Imvuselelo, which is funded by Lotto.
“We don’t get help and we end up not knowing what to do,” said Ronnie Khumalo, another organiser. “We do logistics by ourselves, we buy our own food and we pay the facilitators.”
Khumalo and Ngxala travel around the Eastern Cape organising events aimed at developing Gospel singers. Unfortunately they don’t get any attention in the Sarah Baartman District, Khumalo complained.
