Bushbuckridge Local musicians, dancers, poets, and other performers say they are being left out of events in their own town, or paid very little when they are included.

The group, Nkoka wa Bushbuckridge Musicians and Performing Artists, submitted a formal letter to Bushbuckridge Local Municipality on Friday, 27 February 2026, asking for fair treatment, better pay, and opportunities to perform at local events.

Their contact person, Junior Mkhari, said the group went to meet with local Ndunas to ask why local artists are often ignored. He says the response shocked them: local artists were being sidelined because they “don’t pay rates.”

The memorandum asks the municipality to:

• Include local artists fairly in events and municipal programmes
• Pay artists properly for their work
• Provide workshops and training for musicians, dancers, actors, and technical teams
• Improve arts facilities such as theatres, dance studios, and rehearsal spaces
• Support the local creative industry, including recording studios and video production

The group also wants an annual cultural event to showcase local music, dance, poetry, and theatre, and to promote cultural pride and tourism in Bushbuckridge.

Junior Mkhari said the memorandum is not meant to attack the municipality, but to ask for respect, fair pay, and real opportunities for the people who keep Bushbuckridge’s culture alive.

The artists have asked the municipality for a written response and a meeting to discuss how they can work together going forward.