Support movement to save SA events industry

MIMICKING the United Kingdom’s early lockdown ‘clap for the NHS’ initiative, which saw the country standing together and residents clapping at a stipulated time as part of the ‘Light it in red’ initiative for the UK events industry, the South African events industry is calling on all citizens to do the same, lighting SA in red in acknowledgement of the country’s events industry which came to a grinding halt almost five months ago.

The #LightSAred movement aims to, between 6pm and 8pm on Wednesday, 5 August, light various parts of South Africa i n red to highlight the crippling implications the lockdown has placed on the events industry.

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While many South Africans mourn the loss of partying or going to concerts, those in the industry have been without salaries since March, and times are dire.

According to the movement, the events industry is in a state of emergency.

There are thousands of hard-working, behind-the-scenes people who spend months planning events, putting thought into every detail before the tickets even go on sale.

Stage builders, lights and sound guys and safety people are some examples of staff whose lives depend on live concerts and entertainment, and whose livelihoods have come to a screeching halt.

These people have no way of earning a living and companies who would normally hire them are going out of business.

Those in the industry say that government has not engaged with them during the five months they have been out of work and out of business.

‘We need to tell our story to decision-makers so we can come up with a plan to survive the lockdown and open up events safely and responsibly,’ said the voices behind the #LightSAred movement.

‘We are running out of time to claim UIF TERS – even though we are still under Level 5 lockdown as an industry.

‘We are not able to feed our crew. Our crew is unable to feed their families. We need help to stay alive.’

Crew members will be deployed throughout the country ahead of Wednesday’s lighting the country red.

What can you do?
* If you see a building in your area lit up, take a pic and #LightSAred on your social media
* Find a pic of you and your peeps at a jol, and repost it with #LightSAred
* Light up your home in red
* Find a treasured ticket stub, your favourite party dress, your concert and festival memorabilia, and light it in red
* Follow the movement on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LightSAred/ and watch out for the live stream on 5 August from 10am – 8pm
To find out more about the campaign, visit www.LightSAred.org.za.

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