Zululand artists make themselves heard at Public Hearing
''I want the government to respect us as artists, because that is how we put food on the table for our families''
A ‘Public Hearing’ on the Copyright Amendment Bill and Performers Protection Amendment Bill was hosted by eDumbe Municipality’s Economic Development & Tourism Portfolio Committee on Thursday.
Public Hearings held by the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature are an ‘essential tool’ that provides KZN citizens with the opportunity to be part of the law-making process in areas that affect them. The purpose of these Public Hearings is also to provide all relevant stakeholders and other interested persons with an opportunity to make verbal as well as written presentations on the Bills to the committee.
The targeted stakeholders in the Copyright Amendment Bill and Performers Protection Amendment Bill include actors, writers, performers, all musical genres, and performing artists. Various stakeholders gathered in the eDumbe Town Hall to propose different rights that should be amended in the Bill.
Menzi Mbatha, who is a performing artist, mentioned that, “We are hardly seen as performing artists in South Africa. We were hit hard during the Covid-19 pandemic, but I doubt anyone here in the Zululand District received any benefits as the government promised. I want the government to respect us as artists, because that is how we put food on the table for our families. Our talents and skills must be taken very seriously.” He went on to say that upcoming artists must also be given a platform to showcase what they can do.
Another individual spoke about event organisers, saying, “As local artists, we feel that event organisers do not care about us, as they do not respect our time and energy. An event organiser cannot act as if they are bigger than the artist, because at the end of the day, people come to see the artists performing and not the event organisers.” Other individuals touched on topics such as recording deals, social media, licensing of music and videos, and traditional healers.
The artists themselves concluded by saying they are grateful for the committee for engaging with them, adding that they hope all comments and suggestions are heard and implemented.
ALSO READ:Tempers flare at Parliamentary hearing on land expropriation
The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.
