ANC calls for recovery plan as KZN artists return to court
The African National Congress (ANC) has called on government to draw up a clear recovery plan for the country’s cultural and creative sector as a group of KwaZulu-Natal artists return to court.
The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown has had a devastating impact on the livelihoods of the country’s artists.
Musicians and other artists have been unable to earn an income since March due to the lockdown and the limitation of people at venues.
This led to a group of artists and service providers in the entertainment industry to shut down the N3 highway near Durban last week in an attempt to draw focus to their plight.
The protestors were arrested and appeared in the Pinetown Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.
Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in KwaZulu-Natal Natasha Kara says the case was postponed.
"They are charged with illegal gathering, as well as gathering in contravention of the Disaster Management Regulation, they also face a charge of obstruction of traffic in terms of the Road Traffic Act.
“The matter was remanded to the 23 of October for a decision by the senior public prosecutor.”
The ANC says it still hopes for an amicable solution to the issue.
"We appreciate the issues that have been raised by musicians during their protest in Durban, KZN on 2 September and the countrywide calls for the consideration of opening the industry at 70% capacity,” says spokesperson Pule Mabe.
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KwaZulu-Natal police arrested dozens of artists and service providers in the entertainment industry following a protest on the highway on Wednesday. They want government to increase the crowd capacity at live events to 70% from the current allowance of 50 people under level 2 of the lockdown.
“It is our greatest concern and wish that all issues affecting citizens, or any sector of our society are attended to and resolved amicably without tensions and disruptions.”
Mabe says the Covid-19 relief fund criteria should be simplified.
"There should be a clear cultural and creative industry recovery plan which will include an industry strategy beyond Covid-19.
“We also call the government to simplify its criteria for Covid-19 relief fund requirements and processes so that it will be easy for the industry to access such financial relief."
