TONGA – A well-known local gospel artist, Sifiso “Sifiso S” Shongwe was rescued by police from an angry mob that wanted to burn him live inside his car.
The whole saga unfolded after he had approached people who were allegedly selling pirated CDs in Tonga on Friday.
Shongwe, who branded himself very well in the music industry with his album titled, By fire by force, Ziyabuya izinto zakho, told Mpumalanga News he believed he survived by God’s grace, as police arrived just before his car could be torched.
“I was busy doing street promotions of my latest album and the people started hurling negative comments that it was very expensive.
They said they had bought my CD in the street at a cost of R10. It was then that the SSS Records team decided to investigate this matter further.
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“We came across those people, who were foreign nationals, and we confiscated more than 3 000 pirate copies of my album. They then ganged up on me and I got into the vehicle.
“They insulted me and threatened to set my car alight because they accused me of destroying their business. I thank God that the police responded in time. I don’t know who called them since things were getting out of control,” he explained.
He appealed to the department of arts and culture to intervene as he pointed out that piracy was destroying the music industry.
“I am not the only one in this situation, there were numerous pirated CDs of gospel artists such as Donny, Elack Mathebula and Sifiso Ncwane.
Such illegal activities are destroying our talent and business in the country, it must come to an end,” he said.
Shongwe said people had the wrong perception that local artists were careless with their earnings, yet they struggled to grow financially due to piracy.
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“We are well known in the country, but our bank accounts are empty. If a local artist dies, families end up requesting donations in order to bury them because their music has been pirated all over the place. Nkomazi is the capital city of pirated CDs.
“It’s very painful when someone just discredits your work and we have families that we need to looked after. I will not give up on my calling God is using me to preach his message,” Shongwe concluded.
