Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa receives report of alleged theft and siphoning of funds from the Living Legends Legacy Programme (LLLP) trust account
It is with deep shock and extreme revulsion that Minister Nathi Mthethwa has received a report from the Living Legends Legacy Programme (LLLP) Executive Committee of the siphoning and alleged theft of an amount of R8 million deposited by the Department of Arts and Culture from the Living Legends Trust bank account. How this alleged theft transpired is now a matter of law enforcement agencies’ investigation. The Trust account is held at First National Bank, Wierda Valley, Sandton Branch.
“I received this news with great shock and disbelief. That such a theft of such grand scale has occurred is in itself atrocious. But that this theft has occurred against this nation’s “Living Legends”, our Living National Treasures whom the Department of Arts and Culture is supporting precisely because as a nation we owe them so much leaves me in great disbelief. Those responsible for robbing the Living Legends Trust account are truly shameless. We are in engagement with law enforcement authorities to ensure that the perpetrators of this crime are speedily brought to book.
We have also had honest and frank talks with the Living Legends and we are satisfied that they exercised the caution they did by monitoring the Trust account and upon picking up this nefarious activity, brought it to my attention.” - Minister Nathi Mthethwa
As the Department of Arts and Culture, we wish to allay the fears of the legends, that this massive setback means the DAC will cease to care about them and to support them. On the contrary, the DAC committed R20 million to them, and this is the amount in total that they will receive this financial year as promised. The Legends cannot be punished for the crime of those who would wish to derail the magnificent plans they have in the rich legacy they stand to leave subsequent generations and the nation, and in this regard, they will remain supported. Lastly, the DAC wishes to state in no ambiguous terms that it will never allow evil doers and selfish individuals thwart its efforts for commitment, progress and care of this nation's Living Treasures in the form the Living Legends. We will continue to put pressure on law enforcement agencies to right this grave wrong and bring the perpetrators and implicated parties to book- and also recover the stolen funds.
For further information, and interview requests please contact: Asanda Magaqa (Ms), Spokesperson for the Minister of Arts and Culture – 072 372 6807 and asandam@dac.gov.za