Natasha Thahane U-turns on government study aid, 'absolves' Baleka Mbete
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Image: Instagram/Natasha Thahane
Natasha Thahane has finally cleared the air on claims that she received funds from the department of sport, arts and culture towards her studies at the New York Film Academy with the help of politician Baleka Mbete.
An interview with the actress on Podcast and Chill with Mac G caused an uproar on social media after she revealed she had “made a call” to former deputy president Baleka to ask for her assistance.
“I asked Mam’ Baleka [Mbete] and was like, ‘Mama, I need to go back to school. I’ve been accepted... I don’t know what I’m going to do, can I have funds? Please arrange something for me.’ She managed to speak to [the department of] arts and culture and they gave me funding," she said.
On Tuesday, Natasha posted a video on social media in which she apologised to the former deputy president and the department for alluding to having had a personal relationship with them. She claimed her words were taken out of context.
“I did not receive R1m from Mam' Baleka Mbete or the department of sport, arts and culture,” she said.
She said she had run into Mbete and asked her for advice about funding options after she had been accepted by the New York film school.
“She then advised me to explore the department of sports, arts and culture because they have funding opportunities. That was my first conversation and my last conversation with her. She did not make any calls on my behalf and did not send any emails on my behalf, and I apologise for diluting the entire scenario because I made it seem like I had a personal relationship with her.”
Natasha added that after her funding application was approved by the department, she received only R350,000 for her first semester's tuition fees. A family member helped her to cover the remainder.
Listen to the full statement below:
— Natasha Thahane (@Natasha_Thahane) November 30, 2021
Social media has been up in arms and unimpressed with her official statement.
Take a look at some of the reactions to her post below:
Natasha, you should have asked the honorable chairperson of Lies Mam Baleka Mbete to draft you a statement. You have made things worse. I like you but it's the Telemundo lies I don't like. https://t.co/ejaiRiA4Aw
— YT: Nandira Zuri🌺 (@nandira_zuri) November 30, 2021
Natasha's PR team hates her no ways! People are already worried about petrol price and Khumo's mom and they are putting her back to square one. Unless "mam'Baleka" is the one who wants to clean her name 🤔🤔🤔👀
— Tall_Nique🥴 (@Nique1Tall) November 30, 2021
But to be fair, she said the total cost she incurred was roughly a million and more then she noticed that she really needs funding hense the applications. I think she stretched that amount to look rich rich but either way, she alluded to the million coming from her own pocket.
— Tshiamo (@22TSHIAMO22) December 1, 2021
Natasha is contradicting herself and undermining our intelligence 🥴😒 how do you go from calling and asking for funding to bumping into Mam' Baleka in a building🌚 also from getting 1 million to getting 350k and 315k on separate occasions? pic.twitter.com/rY3mmZ7Y6S
— Abosh🤍 (@Abongile_Du) November 30, 2021
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