MEDIA STATEMENT
“The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) notes the National Assembly's passage of the Copyright Amendment Bill.
This is a progressive Bill that will help ensure that indigent learners and students, as well as educational institutions and libraries have access to often exorbitantly unaffordable educational materials. It will benefit learners and students with disabilities who are faced with numerous barriers to educational materials. Access to education is a fundamental constitutional right. A growing economy is based upon a society where all have access to education and learning material. COSATU salutes the tireless efforts of its affiliate, the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union to champion this Bill.”
By Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). 2 September 2022
“MEMORANDUM ON INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY DECEMBER 10TH 2020
We are many millions of South Africans. We demand our constitutional rights! …”
By Blind SA, South African Disability Alliance (SADA), South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB), South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU), South African Braille Authority (SABA), Right2Know Campaign (R2K), ReCreate South Africa, Southern African Freelancers Association (SAFREA), Concerned Musicians and Creators, South Africa Guild of Actors (SAGA), Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), Wikimedia South Africa. December 10 2020
“On June 16th we celebrate the resistance by the youth
of Soweto and across South Africa to oppressive laws that limited their future education prospects based on race. In 1976 black school students left their desks to protest the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction. The massacre of students that followed was one of the darkest days in the history of apartheid.”
By South African Democratic Teachers Union, Independent Beneficiaries Forum, South African Guild of Actors, ReCreate South Africa, Section 27 and BlindSA. June 22 2020
“Honourable President,
The International Federation of Actors (FIA), the International Federation of Musicians (FIM) and UNI – Media, Entertainment & Arts (UNI MEI) are the representative global trade union federations for workers in the media and entertainment sector, including audio and audiovisual performers, authors and co-authors.”
By the Creative Workers Union, November 15 2019
“Enactment of Copyright and Performers’ Protection Amendment Bills
The SACP is calling upon the President to sign the Copyright and Performers’Protection Amendment Bills into law. At present many artists find themselves obliged to sign contracts with record companies, producers or distributors/publishers that deprive them of royalty payments for their work. The enactment of the Bills will create mechanisms for the artists to receive a fair share of royalties and prohibit unfair contracts. The exploitation of our artists must be brought to an end.
The SACP is calling upon our artists to come together, protect their labour and work together to resolve problems if there are any among themselves and in public policy formulation.”
By the South African Communist Party, 6-8 September 2019
“Proposed legislation will benefit musicians significantly - Deputy Minister Gina
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Nomalungelo Gina says the amendment of the Copyright Act of 1978 and the Performers’ Protection Act of 1967 will significantly benefit South African musicians. Gina was speaking at a ceremony to announce the 2019 South African Traditional Music Achievement (SATMA) Awards nominees in Nelspruit last night.”
By the Department of Trade and Industry, 18 August 2019
“Declaration of Support for the Copyright Amendment Bill
We are writers, filmmakers, producers, photographers, actors, teachers, professors, students, learners, librarians, journalists, artists, poets, software developers, technology entrepreneurs, freedom of expression activists, disability activists, game developers, producers of accessible format materials, educational content producers and many other diverse South Africans.
Amongst us, our organisations represent over half a million South Africans.
In South Africa the law has not protected our interests. We work in industries where many of us are systematically disempowered. We are working under apartheid-era legislation which favours historical and international monopolies which have control of money and power. “
By ReCreate & Partners, 26 April 2019
“Statement by Recreate South Africa on the Passing of the Copyright Amendment Bill
ReCreate South Africa is a coalition of coalition of writers, filmmakers, photographers, educational content producers, software and video game developers, technology entrepreneurs, artists, poets, producers of accessible format materials and other South African creators. ReCreate South Africa welcomes the passing of the Copyright Amendment Bill by the National Assembly. This historic move provides clear guidelines and balance between the rights of creators and users. ReCreate South Africa notes the lengthy consultative approach adopted by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry. We applaud the passage of a bill that serves creator interests by respecting three key rights to enable us to create the next generation of South African content for the world:”
By Tusi Fokane, Recreate, 10 December 2018
“Protect Performers Protect our Heritage
The inability of artist, musicians and creatives to benefit directly from their talents is common refrain in the South African creative Arts industry. The South African Youth Council(SAYC) and by extension the South African Youth, can attest to an infinite number of talented individuals in South Africa’s music culture (for instance) who are now paupers, as a result of unscrupulous, parasitic and exploitative collecting societies both in and out of the country.”
By Thembinkosi Josopu, President of the South African Youth Council, 18 June 2018