Pretoria – President Jacob Zuma has met with the leadership of the Cultural Industries Federation of South Africa (CIFSA) to discuss transformation in the creative sector.
South Africa’s creative economy contributed R90.5 billion directly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the 2013/2014 financial year.
The contribution was driven primarily by the design and creative services, cultural and natural heritage as well as information, books and press clusters.
The leadership of the newly established umbrella body for performing artists met President Zuma for the first time on Wednesday at the Union Buildings.
Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa said in 2009, President Jacob Zuma met with cultural and creative practitioners to discuss challenges they were facing in the industry.
“When the President came to office in 2009, one of the issues he raised in the industry was that they were not organised, so it was difficult to deal with the industry in that fashion.
“Today is a different story because his dream of ensuring that the industry is united, speaks in one voice, has a representative organisation which cuts across all the genres of art, culture and heritage is formed,” Minister Mthethwa said.
CIFSA President Tony Kgoroge said it was nice to meet the person who gave birth to the organisation.
“We were basically putting our ideas forth of how we look at the issues of the economy and transformation
“One of the main issues is transformation. We have monopolies that we have to address. We have eight major sectors, which have about 45 subsectors. We have to make sure transformation takes place, we don’t want to leave any stones unturned,” Kgoroge said.
CIFSA National Coordinator Andrea Dondolo said the organisation was also aimed at uniting the industry.
“We appreciate that we have been afforded this opportunity. For the longest time artists have wanted to have a voice. When you have a body like this, you know that you have a home, an umbrella body where all artists feel they belong,” Dondolo said.
CIFSA was established in March this year. – SAnews.gov.za
