PESP brings relief
THE Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP) is bringing some form of economic relief to the Southern African Disabled Musicians Association’s (SADMA) artists.
The founders and board members of the association consist of blind musicians who have vast experience and expertise in the music industry.
They received R300 000 in grant money to help their artists and to create an opportunity to raise more funds.
As with everyone in the music industry, SADMA doors were shut due to the coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions on events and social gatherings in the country. However, for musician with disabilities the burden was that much harder as opportunities for them to make a living was already a difficulty.
“As SADMA the PESP grant has been of great benefit as we are the most forgotten with regards to government events where artists are featured. Our artists are forgotten when such events are in place. With this grant it is going to be positive. Our artists will be able to put something in their pockets after not having anything for years,” said SADMA board member Johannes Dube.
The main business which the organisation carries on, is broad advocacy for disabled musicians throughout Southern Africa.
“Depending on social disability grants brings financial and emotional limits, disabled people want to be employed, pay taxes and basically contribute to the country’s economy through their talents, this of-course, gives them dignity and self-respect that they deserve like everybody else,” said SADMA chairman John Mothopeng, a blind musician.
Through the PESP grant, the association will be able to host a concert featuring their musicians.
“We want this concert to be exposure for the artists,” said Dube.
SADMA has over 40 musicians across the country. The identified talented musicians were assisted in preparing their music and were recorded for the market and music industry. All these musicians are now unable to sell their CDs as no opportunities are given to them on national radio stations or television.
Dube said 28 artists would be benefiting from the grant money.
“We had requested a grant of R1.3 million to help spread the wings of the organisation as our artists are all over the country.
“We wanted to be able to take concerts to rural areas and have more people experience what we do as SADMA. We can only reach Gauteng with the money we were allocated but are grateful nonetheless.”
Dube added the association was open to receive funding from interested parties. “The concert will help show the skills of the artists and show that they are just as good as those without disabilities. Our disadvantage is our artists’ music does not receive airplay like other artists. So this concert will showcase their musical talents.”
The concert to help support artists with disabilities will take place on May 8 at the Diepkloof Hall in Soweto.