‘VIOLENCE IS NOT A SOLUTION’

MBABANE – The South African entertainment industry is up in arms.

It has  government to open up the sector by allowing 70 per cent capacity at events. 

This after disgruntled Durban artists were protested, completely blockes the N3 north and southbound, between Spaghetti Junction and the Pavilion, in Durban yesterday. 

The artists were seen carrying placcards with the hashtag #VulaPresident. 

Local associations such as Eswatini Arts and Music Association (SWAMA) and the Association of Christian Artists in Eswatini (ACAESWA) have advised local artists not to resort to violent measures to force government to open up the industry. 

Speaking to this publication, the Public Relations Officer of ACAESWA, Nhlanhla Mathunjwa, said there had been engagements with the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs by both associations to deliberate on the opening of the arts and entertainment sector. 

respect

Mathunjwa said in respect of the artists and their livelihoods being affected, they were saddened in the same way by it. 

He said he believed that there would be solutions found through engagements with the authorities even though they seemed to be taking time. 

artists

“We are working together, getting views from the artists as well as making sure that there can be safe guidelines that would guard the priority of events to open,” he highlighted.  

Mathunjwa mentioned that for such events to be given priority would include those that did not require a massive capacity of over 100 people. 

He further said violence would not be the solution and that events would open eventually, however, it would not be the same as before.

In addition to that, SWAMA Public Relations Officer Bongani ‘DJ Tizalami’ Dube said SWAMA and ACAESWA, which are the two biggest arts associations in the country, were already in talks with government through the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs over the reopening of some sections of the arts sector, particularly those that were deemed as low risk.“In this regard, we have already submitted our proposed guidelines for ensuring that the said reopening is in line with safety precautions so as to ensure the safety of both the artists and the audience,” Dube said. 

He further highlighted that the minister assured them that he would do all he could to expedite this, given that artists had been literally out of employment since March, and are still without any form of relief. 

In a telephonic interview with Manzini North Member of Parliament Macford Sibandze, who is one of the pioneers of elevating the local entertainment industry, he concurred with local associations and also pleaded with government to consider the local industry.

industry

He said government should find innovative ways to open up the industry. He went on to note that he has seen some of the countries that have opened their entertainment hubs.

He listed countries such as South Africa, currently hosting the popular talent search show Idols as well as Kenya, Tanzania and London, which have hosted festivals within their borders.

“I am not encouraging artists and people to be violent but our government has to give them breathing space. We need to be innovative not conservative. The industry has suffered including the tourism sector. 

“I am in full support of the motion of opening the industry but we also need to find ways of adhering to all the health precautions. A few weeks ago, I was watching a festival hosted in London with everyone adhering to health precautions and maintaining social distancing. I realised that it is possible and all we need is creativity,” Sibandze said.

Meanwhile, artists such as MTN SWAMA winner, DJ TOS, whose real name is Thabo Mnisi, said he understood the frustration of the artists in South Africa because he was also an artist based in Durban.

 “I know a lot of them depend on the arts to make a living and support their families such that the 5 months without an income made a lot of damage to their livelihood,” Mnisi said.

He said he hoped that local associations would come to an agreement with government, which would see artists making a living out of the arts industry while adhering to health precautions to make sure the coronavirus does not spread as they open up the industry. Local renowned DJ Mfundo, who has worked with Durban-based artists including the well-known DJ and music producer Tira, said he was in full support of the South African artists.

 He mentioned that they had suffered a lot and he was pleading with government to consider them as well.

 “It’s been six months and some of us make a living through entertaining. We feel like we are left behind everything else as things are eased, and nothing being done for creatives,” he said. 

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