Lerato Mvelase Tears Into Gayton McKenzie At Memorial Service: “We Were Sold Dreams”

What was meant to be a day of remembrance for the late Nandi Nyembe turned into a fiery call for justice when actress Lerato Mvelase took the stage at the veteran star’s memorial service.

Nyembe, who passed away on 23 August 2025, was honoured on Thursday, 28 August, at The Market Theatre in Newtown. The hall was filled with peers, family, fans, and government officials who gathered to celebrate the life of one of South Africa’s most esteemed actresses.

Lerato Mvelase Confronts the Department

But the atmosphere shifted when the Deputy Director at the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, Sibusiso Tsanyane, delivered a speech on behalf of Minister Gayton McKenzie. Just as he concluded, Lerato Mvelase stepped up to the podium and unleashed a scathing rebuke of the Minister and his department.

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“I would have loved to hear a speech that speaks on adjusting or changing the policies in place. How long must we hear the same speech? How long must we have the same engagements about the need for policy structures that are going to protect us as actors? We are fighting with the system that has been putting actors down our whole lives,” Mvelase said, receiving loud applause from the crowd.

The actress continued, declaring that the department was no longer welcome to “celebrate and honour fallen stars” until meaningful change was made.

“Please do tell the Minister that going forward, artists will no longer allow the department to come celebrate with us. We have been sold a dream that will never be realised. And I can assure you, wherever Mam’ Nandi is, her heart was not happy. We are not happy.”

Broken Promises Exposed

Her powerful speech struck a nerve as it came just days after revelations that donations meant to help Nandi Nyembe never reached her before her passing. Minister McKenzie’s promised R20,000 contribution and a personal visit to the ailing actress allegedly never materialised.

This failure has reignited anger over the government’s treatment of creatives, with many calling out McKenzie for “clout-chasing” instead of providing sustainable support for artists.

South Africans, deeply moved by Lerato’s words, flooded social media with praise for her bravery:

@lekgethoshaii: “I love Lerato Mvelase!”

@moshoenemoshabi: “Direct all your emotions to @CyrilRamaphosa! This appointment of @GaytonMcK will be regarded as the worst and weakest by our President. So disappointing!”

@TheRock47868403: “We seriously have a clown for a minister in this department. Always chasing clout.”

For decades, Mam’ Nandi entertained Mzansi through iconic roles in Zone 14, Yizo Yizo, Izoso Connexion, Isibaya, and House of Zwide. Her memorial, instead of being only a celebration of her legacy, has now ignited a broader conversation about the exploitation and neglect of South African actors.

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