Directors of the Programme; Sisi Nothembe Nodume and Sisi Lerato Phoko
The City of Tshwane Member of the Mayoral Committee, Councillor Nozipho Makeke and Councillors here present
Gauteng Provincial Government Representatives here present
Department of Arts and Culture Officials
Our partners from Drakensberg Promotions, Bra Sam, Bra Leonard and the team
Media Sponsors; Our Public Broadcaster the SABC represented by Mr Kaiser Kganyago
The Sowetan and Sunday World represented by Mr Ido Lekota
The Private Sector, White Star and Brandhouse
Members of the media,
The Tribute Concert Awards 2013 Honourees
Ladies and gentlemen.
As we conclude another important milestone in the calendar of our country that of celebrating the women’s month, we begin the month of September to celebrate our cultural heritage.
Therefore as the Department of Arts and Culture we are proud to support and be a partner of the Tribute to South African Music Heroes and Heroines Concert and all of its initiatives and programmes during the heritage month.
Our support for the Tribute Concert is based on that this is one major annual live music concert in the country that has exclusively on a continuous basis featured South African artists and emerging musicians and groups and still attracts thousands of music lovers across the country.
It also pays tribute to legendary performers and music industry stalwarts who have made a significant and life-time contribution to the growth and development of music.
Over the years, it has continued in its tradition of hosting the largest party in Gauteng to welcome the spring season.
This event will continue to be one of our flagship events that as the Department of Arts and Culture we support with an intention of ensuring that it grows and retains its iconic status.
We are pleased that the City of Tshwane has also been a partner and hence our association with this event is also informed by the reality that; in addition to bringing people together, it contributes significantly to the economy of Tshwane and of Gauteng.
Statistics at our disposal indicate that the economic benefits that flow as a result of this Concert include:
- Vending opportunities at the event attended by 25,000 to 30,000 patrons
- Short-term income for (up to) 800 car guards
- Generation of income to approximately 1000 home-owners around Moretele Park providing their garages and driveways as parking spaces
- Major increases in patronage at garages and other retail outlets, including fast-food outlets, taverns and liquor stores
- Major boost for local taxis and busses
We estimate that on average, a patron spends about R600 on the day of the event.
If you multiply this by 30 000 patrons who normally attend the event, you will notice a sizeable injection into the local economy of Tshwane.
Ladies and gentlemen we are proud to announce that, in order to be more scientific and accurate in collecting data for the sector we are moving with speed in establishing a Creative and Cultural industries observatory working in partnership with StatsSA, UNESCO, Local and Provincial governments and the private sector.
One other aspect of the Concert which we identify with fully is the honouring of legendary musicians and also because it happens in the month of September wherein we celebrate our rich cultural heritage.
We have observed that since the launch of the Tribute Concert in Orlando Stadium sixteen years ago, more than sixty legendary musicians and music industry luminaries have been awarded the coveted Tribute Award.
We therefore take this opportunity to congratulate the 2013 Tribute Concert Awards Honourees. We are indeed proud of the contribution you continue to make in growing the music industry.
Ladies and gentlemen, we must indeed continue to celebrate and honour those who make us proud through their work. We must honour them preferably when they are still alive.
This we must do not only to show our appreciation for the work they do to enrich our society, but also to encourage them to continue to be role models to younger generations within the art and culture sector.
We also support the workshops and skills development programmes for musicians, technicians and other related industry practitioners that are part of the event.
This is an important contribution towards advancing skills development within our sector thus ensuring its sustainability.
It will also contribute towards our goal of establishing a national skills academy of the arts in South Africa.
We are proud to pronounce that we will in the coming amounts unveil significant progress on the building of the National Skills Academy for the Arts in South Africa.
In conclusion we take this opportunity to congratulate Bra Sam and Bra Leonard and the team for working hard to put together this iconic event.
May this Concert grow from strength to strength!
May it also become the anchor event of what will in future be a vibrant cultural precinct in Mamelodi.
Thank you!
