Premier Dr Ramathuba urges Limpopo artist to take craft seriously

Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba has urged local artists to take their craft seriously and focus on producing quality work instead of complaining about being excluded from major music festivals.

Ramathuba said artists should work on improving their craft and competing on merit, rather than expecting preferential treatment simply because they are from Limpopo.

She was speaking during the official launch of the 2026 Limpopo Golf challenge at the Ranch Hotel outside Polokwane on Wednesday.

“Please let’s try to be serious with our jobs, I know musical artists like fighting me when I say this statement,” said Dr Ramathuba.

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“Every time when they see that there is an event, they all want to perform and I want to indicate to them. Even if you are an upcoming artist, try to do quality work.

“Just because Phophi Ramathuba can sing in her shower when she is depressed by the problems of people of Limpopo, she must not think she will go to Mapungubwe [Festival] and perform. No one will buy a ticket if you write Phophi Ramathuba, nobody,” she said.

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“But you write Makhadzi, everybody wants to go and watch Makhadzi. Everybody wants to dance to the music of King Monada. It’s not like we don’t want to promote [local artists].

“There are upcoming artists, who just come with one song and you can hear this is quality work. So all I am saying is that be like me, I take my job seriously. Some people think I have been a Premier for 10 years and I only started two years ago because I take my job seriously.”