Sports, arts and culture minister Nathi Mthethwa has revealed actress Natasha Thahane’s request for funds to study in the US was made directly to him.
Mthethwa revealed this in a written reply to a parliamentary question by EFF MP Khanya Ceza, who wanted details of the funding, including the alleged involvement of former National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete.
Mthethwa said his department was not aware of Mbete’s role in securing Thahane’s funding.
“What we know is that Ms Thahane made a request for financial support towards her studies at the New York Film Academy directly to me as the minister,” he said.
“This request is similar to many others my office and the department constantly receives from members of the public. The public does this possibly because I am the political head of the department,” said Mthethwa.
He confirmed the funds were for Thahane’s tuition fees at the New York Film Academy, and the terms for her contract with the department was for her film studies and the condition that she should complete her studies in film.
The funding was approved by the deputy director-general for Institutional Governance in 2017, said Mthethwa.