South African Actress Deli Malinga is asking for donations to go to Kenya so that she can attend the award ceremony.
The 59-year-old Umkhokha actress has been nominated for awards in Kenya called Ladies In Media Awards.
She’s asking Mzansi to help her get there.
Deli is nominated for African Female Actress of The Year for her role as MaMzobe on Umkhokha.
“I received an email last month. I was invited. I’m so happy and excited. I don’t know what to do. I wish to tell everyone about it,” she said.
Deli feels it’s important for her to attend the awards because she’ll be representing Mzansi in the category.
“I want to be there. It means a lot. I’m representing the country. Not just South African females, not just KZN or Umlazi, but African Female Actress of The Year. Africa is big. I’m going to its cities to represent my country.
“I feel honoured. It’s so big. I don’t even know why they chose me,” she said.
The actress, who’s also starred in Generations, Adulting and Rhythm City, said she reached out to people for help but didn’t get it.
“I wish I could go there. I’ve tried so much and sent so many emails to different people. I need to get flights from King Shaka International Airport to O.R Tambo International Airport and from there to Kenya and return. I need to get a meal allowance. Also to pay for my Visa and a tour guide.
“I need to be there from 24 March until 1 April. Please, I need donations. I’m humbly asking all of you guys. This would be a dream come true. This was my first attempt as a lead, and it has earned me so many awards here at home and now outside of the country,” she said.
Howard Msomi, secretary of the Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa (CCIFSA), told Daily Sun that a solution should be found to help Deli.
“I’ll be honest, I haven’t seen the video yet. But as artists, we shouldn’t get to a stage where we ask for donations. The government should make plans to help people in the industry.
“Government has three spheres: local, provincial and national. Where mama is, it isn’t good that we see old legends to be in such problems. We need to sit down as stakeholders to see how we can help her.
“As of now, I don’t know what the solution would be. But now that this is out, we need to sit down and find a solution for her,” Howard said.
