Government committed to addressing artists' concerns

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Pretoria- Government is committed to addressing challenges faced by South African artists, trade and industry deputy minister Thandi Tobias-Pokolo said on Wednesday.

"This is a caring government.... we are a government that doesn't want to see artists suffer," Tobias-Pokolo told a meeting of artists.

Some of the grievances voiced by the artists included copyright management as well as time allocated for local artists by the national broadcaster (SABC) with artists expressing concern that not enough local content is being played on the airwaves.

The deputy minister said she was aware of the concerns expressed by the artists adding that she had convened the meeting to hear their grievances first hand.

"We need to have a good working relationship while also we need to single out matters that require our attention. Our intention is to resolve these challenges," she said.