Artists encouraged to formalise their businesses

Dr Qetsimani was speaking at the creative industry formalisation workshop hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry in Newtown, Johannesburg at the weekend.

The purpose of the workshop was to assist members of the creative industry, including musicians, actors, composers, film producers, dancers, poets, and artists to formalise their businesses.

It was part of the implementation of a resolution that was taken at the anti-piracy conference in Boksburg in 2010, where the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Thandi Tobias-Pokolo, launched the national anti-piracy campaign.

Dr Qetsimani highlighted that artists need to take charge of their own affairs and ensure they do not die poor. In his presentation, Dr Qetsimani advised artists to register their companies or brands with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC).

"This is the only way you will be taken seriously in this industry and the only way to be able to access government incentives and to provide services to government," said Qetsimani.

He also added that in order for government to be able to assist artists, they need to take a lead and formalise themselves so they will be able to tell government what they want, and further advised the artists not to stop learning.

"You should be learned people who will be able to read their own contracts. This industry has sharks and if you can't read and understand these contracts, you will become a victim," he added.

During the workshop, artists were empowered with presentations on how to register their companies, the Trade and Industry Department intervention on formalisation of the industry, the department incentives schemes and on copyrights and challenges of the industry.

Representative from the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), Mojalela Khoza told the industry that it cost R175 only to register a Close Cooperation.

"We don't have reasons not to register our businesses, as we can also do it online by ourselves," said Khoza.

Government's trategy to assist the creative industry is also a result of the sector meeting and consultation with the industry that President Jacob Zuma had in November 2009, as well as a subsequent meeting that Tobias-Pokolo had with artists in April 2010.

In both meetings, numerous problems dogging the industry were raised. These included amongst others allegations of mismanagement in the distribution of copyright royalties.