Statement by Bantu Holomisa, UDM President

It marks over a month since our open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa 7 March 2024 relating to the Copyright Amendment Bill and the Performers Protection and Rights Amendment Bill, we have decided to issue this media statement.

The United Democratic Movement’s (UDM) open letter caused a flurry of activity by various political parties, including the African National Congress (ANC) which voted for the flawed Bills with a resounding and unanimous 236 votes in Parliament.

On 16 March, the ANC organised and convened an artists’ workshop at Birchwood Hotel, Kempton Park, at which the Secretary-General (SG), inter alia, allegedly promised to stop the President of the ANC in his capacity as the President of the Republic of South Africa from signing the Bills approved by Parliament, thanks to the ANC vote ensuring the flawed Bills would be approved as legislation. He also apparently promised that the President would meet with the creatives/artists on 1 April 2024. This is now being referred to as the “April Fools’ Meeting”. Needless to say, it never happened. There has not been even the courtesy to explain or account to the artists.

This of course is no surprise.

The UDM:-

1. stands by the local artists, our local music industry sectors, and its stakeholders, promoter, technicians, dancers, our fashion industry, transport, small businesses, as well as their families and communities. We reiterate our position and make a loud call to President Ramaphosa not to sign the Copyright Amendment Bill in its current form, with its inclusion of the mischievous “Fair Use” clause that only benefits foreign multinationals at the expense, detrimental as well as resultant impoverishment of our local artists and loved ones;
2. will ensure that the Copyright Amendment Bill and the Performers Rights Amendment Bill are corrected, aligned and harmonised so as not to compromise our artists and actors, but to guarantee that they are rightfully and deservedly protected to enable them to thrive;
3. cares about all our artists, actors and communities. We also care for our heritage and believe the Copyright Amendment Bill must exclude the “Fair Use” clause;
4. will ensure proper and unbiased funding of the arts so as to enable more growth in our proudly South African content, and a thriving, vibrant industry for all artists, communities and stakeholders;
5. is committed to creating an enabling environment for all artists, actors, crafters, visual art artists, etc. so they are supported to be self-sufficient, and to prosper and thrive in a dignified environment;
6. will assist with the formation of a union and/or legal advisors that would assist creatives/artists with their contractual advisory requirements and other industry related nuances is something the UDM would want to prioritise, should this be required by the industry players;
7. also strongly believes that it is time our TV channels and radio stations raised the local content bar with a target of 90% local content. This would of course be subject to local content availability while ensuring we can create content to meet the targets in areas where deficiency is noted.

In addition to the afore-going, it is to be noted that:-
1. the success of the Amapiano genre as an example and South African artists like Tyla has proved what the UDM has always known and believed, that South African music and musicians are highly talented and can conquer the world. Charity begins at home, and we owe it to our local artists to have our music being ubiquitous, with an omni-presence so that visitors and music lovers can hear our music as they land in our beautiful country, in cars, hotels, malls, etc;
2. we are ready as the UDM, to engage so that we can together as South Africans craft ways that are solution oriented with appropriately drafted legislation that speaks to areas, we have not applied our minds to, but not at the expense of our local creatives;

3. we believe that all artists should be classified and be recognised like all other workers – be afforded medical insurance, pension fund, job security so they can access home loans and other worker related benefits. Social security is as important for artists as it is for all other workers.

Statement issued by:
Mr Bantu Holomisa
President of the United Democratic Movement and Member of Parliament