Bitou hosts anti-piracy campaign
The King of Kwaito Arthur Mofakate and music stars Chomee and Deborah Fraser were in Bitou in early December to launch an anti-piracy campaign.
The campaign is the initiative of the national Department of Trade and Industry.
Bitou was chosen as the venue to launch the campaign, which saw a host of dignitaries come to town. Among the visitors were the deputy minister of trade and industry Ms Thandi Tobias-Pokolo, the deputy minister of planning and evaluation Ms Dina Pule, the deputy minister of communication Mr Obed Bapela and the mayor of Oudtshoorn Mr Gordon April.
Bitou Executive Mayor Lulama Mvimbi welcomed the guests and explained that the anti-piracy initiative would be an ongoing campaign. He added that there were a large number of young people in Bitou who want to enter in music industry.
Tobias-Pokolo explained that the campaign was a result of a meeting between President Jacob Zuma and the department, indentifying various challenges faced by the music industry. This included pirating music by local artists.
The launch was a follow up to a visit to Bitou by the deputy president, Kgalema Motlanthe, earlier in the year.
The deputy minister of trade and industry urged the public to support local artists, boosting the local economy. She also encouraged the formation of a radio station and newspapers in Plettenberg Bay.
Gospel legend Fraser said piracy was a problem for the South African music industry and urged people not to buy fake CDs, while Bapela said his department wanted people to be able to use technology without killing creative industries. He also discouraged illegal down loading as it created unemployment.
The co-operatives unit of the DTI, the creative industry unit of the DTI, Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA), CIPRO, Khulula Enterprises Financial Ltd, Standard Bank and ABSA also took part in the launch.
Chomee provided entertainment, performing her hit Jaiva Sexy. Arthur performed Mnike.
Later in the day the campaign moved to kwaNokuthula to spread the message through local artists such as DJ Mjilo, Nicotee, Sekshin, Nguking, Woof Squad, Ghetto Soldier and Slow Poison.
A DTI truck also travelled through Bitou with local artists performing while anti-piracy brochures were handed out.
