In a statement released via their Instagram page, the Recording industry of South Africa (RiSA) confessed that they were extremely disappointed to learn from the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs that the Kwa-Zulu Natal province withdrew itself from hosting the 29th annual South African Music Awards (SAMAs29).
The news came after opposition parties in the form of the EFF and ActionSA questioned the province’s decision to host the costly event which was estimated to be around “R28 million”, especially since the province is still trying to recover from the recent natural disasters.
MEC for the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Siboniso Duma later clarified the amount by stating that the rumours were false and that the estimated cost would have been around R20 million.
Meanwhile, in their statement, RiSA continued by saying that the SAMA was going to create more than 150 new job opportunities and benefit the creative sector as well as ignite other economies in the form of tourism, hospitality, retail, transportation, and the formal sector.
RiSA says that it strongly rebukes the assertion made by the hosting province.
“It is problematic that an institution of great importance to the pulse of our cultural economy has been violated for cheap politicking.”
“What has been lost in all the resultant noise are the economic benefits of hosting a show of this magnitude for any city or province,” the statement read.
“We have a three-year contract with EDTA and will be consulting with our contractual partners, to find out what led to this decision and carve a way forward.
“As such, we will advise in due course what the next steps for SAMA29 will be,” the statement continued.
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Also see: KZN cancels the SAMAs
