Minister Gayton distances himself from Durban Music Festival
Rick Ross is set to headline the Durban Music Festival on May 3 at Moses Mabhida Stadium, an event organized by Blue Screen Entertainment.
However, controversy arose after the rapper mentioned the Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture in a promotional video, thanking them alongside event organizers.
“I want to take a moment and give a huge shoutout to King Jabu, Blue Screen Entertainment, and the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture,” said Rick.
This sparked speculation that the department was financially backing the festival, further fueled by its logo appearing on the event’s promotional material.
In response, department spokesperson Zimasa Velaphi dismissed the claims, stating that they are not funding the festival.
“The Durban Music Festival is not funded by the Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture,” Zimasa said.
The event’s marketing manager, Harvey Glen, emphasized the significance of bringing international talent to South Africa, highlighting that this concert is the first of five major events planned for the year.
According to Glen, these shows aim to create employment opportunities and showcase South African talent to a global audience through live streaming.
Gregory Wings, the director and owner of Blue Screen Entertainment, also clarified the funding issue, stating that while the department supports the event in principle, there is no financial contribution due to budget constraints.
Wings stressed that the entire production is solely financed by his company, with no government assistance.
He reiterated that the focus is on uplifting the local entertainment scene and creating opportunities for South African artists.
