Cape Town – South African actress and media personality Natasha Thahane has revealed that she received funds from the government for her studies, after reaching out to politician Baleka Mbete.
According to TimesLIVE, Natasha went to study in the United States in 2017 at the New York Film Academy. She, however, didn’t have funding then to get through her studies.
Speaking on MacG’s Podcast & Chill Natasha said: “I needed funding, I called Gcinwa and Russells, they helped me and then I went to Mam’ Baleka, she was still the chairperson of parliament then. I’m like Mama I need to go and study… I think the entire year was a million-plus but there’s was still food and all of these things. I was like mama I need to go back to school I’ve been accepted, I didn’t sign my second year at the Queen, so I don’t know how I’m gonna do, can I please have funds, she (Mbethe) managed to speak to Arts and Culture and then they gave me funding but I only asked for funding for one semester because I was scared to ask for the whole year.”
Loooool yavele yacula ingane bakit n ibabiza ngamagaama??? pic.twitter.com/poMLEY8Qw2
— Sigujana ? (@Sigujana_ZA) November 26, 2021
Soon after her revelation, the star received some backlash from social media, with some saying that she was “flaunting her privilege”.
Yoh ? | Natasha Thahane implicating Baleka Mbete and Department of Arts and Culture there by #macgpodcastandchill
While others complete application forms, Nathi Mthethwa department gave her money because she is a granddaughter of Desmond Tutu. ? https://t.co/InXl7gygVb
— TK_Nala (@NalaThokozane) November 27, 2021
Natasha responded to the backlash saying that she applied like everyone else, she even emailed the department of arts and culture but to no avail, hence she decided to reach out to Mbethe.
The star shared screenshots of the emails she sent to various places asking for funding, including the Barack Obama Foundation.
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“I applied for funding, no one responded. Until the school assisted me get in contact with the department. I even emailed Barack Obama’s Foundation hoping I’d get assistance. #Natasha,” Natasha wrote in a tweet.
I applied for funding, no one responded. Until the school assisted me get in contact with the department.
I even emailed Barack Obama’s Foundation hoping I’d get assistance. #Natasha pic.twitter.com/fqdZLIXlYm
— Natasha Thahane (@Natasha_Thahane) November 27, 2021
Take a look at some of the Twitter reactions:
Natasha Thahane merely exposed and verbalised how the world actually runs and works: nepotism, cronyism and privilege is how the elite remain in that class for generations, by looking out for each other. Meritocracy is a myth and lie that’s used to silence marginalized people.
— Paballo Chauke (@ChatWithChauke) November 27, 2021
How to get finencially assistance from the government in South Africa….
Other students. Natasha pic.twitter.com/xtSXwD9kDU
— ChrisExcel (@ChrisExcel102) November 27, 2021
NSFAS will tell you they don’t fund a second degree or post-graduate but abo Natasha gets a million from the government to secure second degree ?
— Unarine (@phalanndwa6) November 27, 2021
Natasha sharing how she got funding is how privilege works ke guys. And for many children of these struggle stalwarts, the state is their mini purse. The rest of us will sign one million application forms, bona they go “mama, I need funding” and arts and culture comes through.
— IZWELETHU ?✊?? (@miss_andisa) November 27, 2021
You did nothing wrong mtanasekhaya, I also phoned Mme Thandie Modise, the current chair in Parliament, for some help, she didn’t respond, I tried Arts and culture, they referred me my ward councilor, my councilor managed to give me a t-shirt only and say they don’t have money
— Lekgowa???? (@Hlarediahloga) November 27, 2021
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Picture: Twitter/@Natasha_Thahane
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Compiled by Sinothando Siyolo
