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Johannesburg - The National Heritage Council (NHC) on Thursday disassociated itself from a Miriam Makeba commemorative event organised by Morris Roda Promotions.
"There was no formal request received by the NHC from the organisers to propose any form of partnership or support," the council said in a statement.
"The NHC also has no record of any approval granting the organisers [permission] to quote the CEO of the NHC or the organisation in their promotional information."
It said it cannot associate itself with an event that was "marred with contestations that are not commensurate to the integrity of the stature" of Makeba. On Wednesday, musician Mzwakhe Mbuli, who is a member of an events company working with Morris Roda Productions, told reporters in Johannesburg the NHC was supporting the event.
He said they would go ahead with the concert at Church Square in Pretoria from November 7 to 9, even though the arts and culture department withdrew its support because the names of artists had been used to promote it without their consent.
Court battle
Other sponsors were to be announced "at an appropriate time".
The ministry is taking Morris Rhoda Productions to the High Court in Pretoria on Thursday to get about R3m back that it invested in the event.
Makeba's family on Thursday distanced itself from the court battle, saying the proceedings were "unfortunate and undermine what she stood for".
The family said: "We believe that any event organised in our grandmother's honour should be properly organised, dignified and free of controversy.
"We believe that her life and legacy should inspire us as a nation and be a unifying symbol."
Makeba died on November 10 2008, aged 76.
"There was no formal request received by the NHC from the organisers to propose any form of partnership or support," the council said in a statement.
"The NHC also has no record of any approval granting the organisers [permission] to quote the CEO of the NHC or the organisation in their promotional information."
It said it cannot associate itself with an event that was "marred with contestations that are not commensurate to the integrity of the stature" of Makeba. On Wednesday, musician Mzwakhe Mbuli, who is a member of an events company working with Morris Roda Productions, told reporters in Johannesburg the NHC was supporting the event.
He said they would go ahead with the concert at Church Square in Pretoria from November 7 to 9, even though the arts and culture department withdrew its support because the names of artists had been used to promote it without their consent.
Court battle
Other sponsors were to be announced "at an appropriate time".
The ministry is taking Morris Rhoda Productions to the High Court in Pretoria on Thursday to get about R3m back that it invested in the event.
Makeba's family on Thursday distanced itself from the court battle, saying the proceedings were "unfortunate and undermine what she stood for".
The family said: "We believe that any event organised in our grandmother's honour should be properly organised, dignified and free of controversy.
"We believe that her life and legacy should inspire us as a nation and be a unifying symbol."
Makeba died on November 10 2008, aged 76.
