SARA’s concerns over delay of payment for Backstage Academy SA: Minister Zizi Kodwa says “there are ongoing discussions”

Freddie Nyathela from SARA however vehemently refutes that there are discussions going on between the two parties over the issue.

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

The establishment of Backstage Academy SA, an academy that promises to offer young people in South Africa quality education in the area of technical production in live events has somehow, stalled.

This is because the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, (DSAC) according to the South African Roadies Association (SARA), is delaying payment for the process to continue smoothly.  No valued explanation is forthcoming from DSAC for the delay, according to the Newtown based organization.

However Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture (DASC), Zizi Kodwa says that there is an on-going discussion between his office and President of South African Roadies Association (SARA) Nyathela over the delay in paying the organisation’s second tranche that it needs in order to proceed with its work to launch Backstage Academy SA. Nyathela however denies such communication, dismissing the comment from the ministry as misleading.

“The Ministry’s response is unfortunate and misleading, an attempt to cover-up blatant abuse of power and maladministration by DSAC senior civil servants, including the Acting Director-General Dr Cynthia Khumalo. The Ministry should provide evidence to support its deceptive statement. 

Fact and truth are: The Ministry has been mum, deliberately ignoring SARA’s communications with the last email communication from the Minister’s special advisor Mr Ray Nkwe to the Minister’s PA Ms Lungiswa Phoswa (SARA copied) on Thursday, 19 October 2023, advising as below, after the special advisor’s visit to SARA House on Monday 28 August 2023:

“This is very important and strategic project that must be prioritised for the Minister to visit soon. It is a DSAC project – a school which is the only black owned and operated, and that trains thousands of young people to get employment in the technical field of the creative industry here at home and abroad.

 As previously reported, I have discussed the matter with ADG (Cynthia Khumalo) and Charles (Mabaso), as I did with Penny Penny’s matter as well. I am now requesting Minister’s direct intervention, and intend to brief him on the details.”

According to Nyathela, the academy is a unique academy that would see young South Africans interested in a career in the technology intensive live events sector, gain much needed technical skills as technical production specialists. SARA for the past 10, years has been in discussion with Backstage UK (now called Academy of Live Technology) to establish in South Africa Backstage UK-style model of live events technical production education system. However now the arrangement between SARA and the Department seems to be facing turbulence over the delay by government to pay the delayed tranche and therefore, affecting SARA’s process of establishing the institution in South Africa.

SARA and the UK based technology education institution have accordingly, since signed a Memorandum of Understanding, that would see the later lend its expertise in making sure that its superior training curriculum, which according to the institution, is a much sought after education around the world, including in the West, is offered at Backstage Academy SA.

SARA therefore, sought the assistance of the Department of Arts and Culture in making this kind of an institution, the first of its kind in Africa, to become a reality by funding its establishment.

SARA in 2019, accordingly therefore, invited a powerful delegation of senior Department of Arts and Culture officials, led by then Director-General Vusimuzi  Mhize to Production Park in the UK, where Backstage UK is based. The DSAC officials for the four days that they spent touring the massive facilities of the academy were therefore, impressed by the setup, according to Nyathela. DAC then agreed to fund the establishment of Backstage SA over a three year period.

“The Department of Arts and Culture in South Africa is excited that Backstage Academy and SARA have come on board to journey with us. This project to drive live events training is of enormous importance to our country to bridge the skills gap in the sector. The Public-Private Partnership will help the South African Government to achieve this objective and create job opportunities for the youth,” Mhize was reported saying by Total production Magazine (https://www.tpmeamagazine.com/) the leading international magazine on live events and technical production, at the time after the tour.

And according to the Memorandum of Agreement that has since been signed between DSAC and SARA, which CITYLIFE/ARTS has seen, DSAC commits to funding the establishment of Backstage SA to the tune of R18 519 060 over a three year period, with the amount of  According to the MOU we signed with DSAC, the government has committed to funding R8 720 000 having already been paid for the 2022/2023 financial year.

“We are still waiting for the second batch for the 2023/2024 financial year, which we have not received. This is despite the fact that we have an agreement that states exactly what the funding pays for and we have given the government the full report,” Nyathela told CITYLIFE/ARTS in an interview.

 Ever since no further payment has been received by SARA for the 2023/24 financial year, and this delay, according to Nyathela in a report carried on CITYLIFE/ARTS last two weeks ago, is delaying the progress of establishing Backstage Academy SA in South Africa. This delay, if it continues, according to Nyathela, would affect the deadline of making sure that Backstage Academy SA opens its doors to students soonest, and therefore, dash the hopes of the youth to gain the much needed skills of the future in the live events sector that needs technically savvy practitioners.

 CITYLIFE/ARTS sought comment from Minister Kodwa to shed light on the reasons for the delay in paying the second tranche as agreed on  between SARA and DSAC.

Through his spokesperson Litha Mpondwana the minister had this to say: “The Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture has responded to Mr Nyathela on his concerns. There are ongoing discussions by the Ministry with Mr Nyathela.”

The agreement between SARA and DSAC was signed when Nathi Mthethwa was Minister. However subsequent to the appointment of Kodwa as Minster by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his most recent Cabinet reshuffle, Kodwa dispatched his special advisor Ray Nkwe in September last year to visit SARA House in Newtown, Johannesburg, CITYLIFE/ARTS has lent. Nkwe indeed took back a glowing report about SARA’s work and the potential the establishment of Backstage Academy SA would have in up-skilling the youth of South Africa and creating employment, to his boss in Pretoria.

“This is a very important and strategic project that must be prioritised for the Minister to visit soon. It is a DSAC project – a school which is the only black owned and operated, and that trains thousands of young people to get employment in the technical field of the creative industry here at home and abroad,”  Nkwe wrote after his visit.

In the meantime Nyathela’s frustrated with the delay of payment, has registered a complaint with the Public Protector’s office. CITYLIFE/ARTs understands that the matter is under investigation by the Public Protector who has assigned an investigator who is currently busy with the investigation.

Nyathela confirmed recent communication with the Public Protector’s investigator, but did not give details about the nature of the communication.

Meantime, when the delegation of Academy of Live Technology attended the Live Technology Summit organized by SARA, and held at Sunnyside Park Hotel in Parktown in September 2023,  its founder and chairman Adrian Brooks said that the institution’s model  (https://fb.watch/pRSlCsbW0y/?mibextid=Nif5oz) was increasingly becoming popular globally, with the US and Saudi Arabia being the latest host countries through partnerships with local institutions.

Indeed the Academy of Live Technology (formerly BackstageUK)  offers much need skills in live events production, that include the following, which are much sought after globally:

1. Live Events Production.

BA (HONS) – 3 Years (BA), 2 Years (FdA) – FULL TIME

BA (HONS) Live Events Production introducing you to the Technical, Design and

Management areas of Live Event with four distinct pathways for you to choose from including Lighting Design & Technology, Live Sound, Live Visuals and Event Business.

2. Live Events Production

BA (HONS) – 1 Year Full time

The third year of our BA (HONS) course in Live Events Production can also be takenas a standalone qualification.

3. Live Visual Design and Production.

BA (HONS) – 3 Years – full time.

BA (HONS) Live Visual Design & Production is a ground – breaking Degree focused on creating cutting – edge visual experiences for global audience. You’ll build virtual worlds with gaming platforms like unreal engine, experiment with immersive technology such as VR and Motion tracking and create interactive visual experiences with projection mapping and LED walls to amaze audiences.

4. Stage and Production Management.

BA (HONS) – 3 Years – Full Time

BA (HONS) Stage & Production Management at Backstage Academy is dedicated to delivering the next generation of stage and production managers for the Live Events

Sector, in areas as diverse as Theatre, Live Music Concert Touring, Corporate and Sporting Events.

POST GRADUATE DEGREES

1. Creative Technologies for Live Events.

MSC – Full Time (1 Year) or Part Time (2Years)

Our MSc in creative Technologies for Live Events aims to equip students with the

Technical, Academic and Professional skills necessary to be creative innovators and technologists within Live Events and the wider creative industries.

2. Immersive and Interactive Media Design

MA Immersive & Interactive Media Design examines how audience experiences can

be enhanced through technology and media. The programme considers how these experiences are created using technology, scenography, storytelling, and narrative design. 3. Innovation & Entrepreneurship for Live Events.

MA – Full Time (1Year) or Part Time (2 Year).

The MA Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Live Events offers you the opportunity to develop the leadership, financial, and strategic skills along with the business acumen necessary to be creative innovators and entrepreneurs within the Live Events and related industries.

4. Live Events Design.

MA – Full Time (1Year) or Part Time (2Year)

The MA Live Event Design aims to offer you the opportunity to cultivate your own creativity and design approach, whilst developing your knowledge, understanding and critical insight into the principles and practise under pinning design, artistry and innovation within Live Events and wider creative industries.

5. Virtual Production.

MSc – Full Time (1 Year) or Part Time (2 Years)

MSc Virtual Production aims to equip students with the creative, technical, and professional skills necessary to be innovators at the cutting edge of contemporary virtual production practice for Film and TV Productions, Immersive experiences, Virtual conferences, Corporate Events, Music Videos and more.