The Free State artists are staging a sit-in at the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State (Pacofs) offices in Bloemfontein for the sixth day.
The provincial coordinator of Ccifsa, Mbuyiselo Nqodi, told Bloemfontein Courant, though they are frustrated and fatigued at this point, they remain determined.
He explained that they had a meeting with a representative from the Pacofs board last night but there were many things that they did not agree with. “He failed to give us answers on how certain decisions were taken by the board. We sent him back with a message to the board to say that we will wait until they are open to speak about certain issues and give us the report that we need.”
Nqodi said they are set to meet with the board as a hole on 18 March and until then they will remain at the offices. “We are only willing to back our bags once we have recieved what what we want.”
He added that they will escalate the matter to the office of the minister should the meeting not be favourable.
The artists are peacefully protesting, using their craft by performing live shows during their sit-in that are streamed on social media to express how they feel about what the industry is doing to them. “We are trying to pass the message to those out there by using our talents”
Nqodi said the priemer of the Free State is set to meet with them this week to listen to their concerns.
Sazly Hartzenberg
