Natasha Thahane Denies Having Received 1M Funding From the Government

Natasha Thahane Denies Having Received 1M Funding From the Government. Just when the story was dying down, it just got a new lifeline. Natasha Thahane has been trending on social media after doing an interview on Podcast and Chill with MacG a week ago.

On the interview the talented actress, revealed that she received over R1 million in funds from the government after reaching out to politician Baleka Mbete. After being accepted at the New York Film Academy in 2017, Natasha did everything she could to get funding. She then engaged the then Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Mbete, who liaised with the department of Arts and Culture. Natasha was then sponsored, and went to the Sates.

Social media went really hard on her, more so since many students are struggling to get funds to study locally. The fact that she is the granddaughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, made the situation worse for Natasha. A lot of people stated that she used that influence to obtain a favor. She had no choice but to clear her name, and that of Mbete, because bigger problems might arise.

Natasha has released an official statement via a video, in which she stated that she was quoted out of context. She changed her initial statement where she said Mbete contacted Arts and Culture, and instead said she only advised her to “explore” the department as they have funding opportunities. Natasha explained that she then took Mbete’s advice and sent her application to the department and other organizations, and her application subsequently was approved. Natasha received funding towards her tuition for the first semester to the value of R350,000, not 1M as many believe.

She also apologized to Mbete for speaking about her in a way that seemed like they have a personal relationship, which according to her, is not the case.

“That was my first conversation and last conversation with her. She did not make any calls on my behalf, she did not send any emails on my behalf. I apologize for diluting the entire scenario because I made it seem like I had a personal relationship with her, which is not the case.,” Natasha said.