The Rep 10 July 2020

8 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 10 July 2020 THE R E P R ES E N TAT I V E
Maestro jazzes
it up at festival
Local legend’s one-hour show part of virtual Naf
MUSIC MAN: Jazz maestro Mlungisi Gegana, from Komani, with his acoustic double bass guitar
Picture: SUPPLIED
ANDISA BONANI
Komani jazz legend
Mlungisi Gegana, who
performed for the first
ever “virtual” G ra h a m s t ow n
National Arts Festival, shared his
experience about his online
s h ow.
Gegana’s pre-recorded show
aired on Saturday, which was
the last weekend of the festival.
The virtuaol festival kicked
off on June 25.
“It was strange in a good way
because a virtual festival is
something new to us.
“We basically performed for
ourselves because there was no
audience.
“This, however, was an
amazing experience for us
because it is normal for jazz
artists to get lost in the music
and even forget that there is an
audience under normal
c i rc u m s t a n c e s .”
The jazz maestro said a
representative from the
Grahamstown-based Dakawa
Arts Centre, which is usually
used as a jazz venue during the
Naf, had contacted him and
asked him to perform in the
virtual f e s t iva l .
“He said I was
recommended by the Chris
Hani District Municipality
which made me assume that
municipalities were probably
requested to make
recommendations of their
artists.
“As an acoustic bassist, I
approached two young men
who I have worked with before,
one from Port Elizabeth and
another from East London, who
play the piano and drums
respectively, to assist me with
my show.”
Gegana said they had to
practise individually because
they could not travel and get
together to practice due to the
Covid-19 regulations.
“However, we put on an
amazing show and Naf had
organised a cameraman and a
sound engineer to assist us.
“We had to travel to East
London to shoot our one-hour
show and we did our best,
hoping that all who had tuned
in would enjoy our offering,”
Gegana said.
“With this Covid-19 one has
to be flexible and get on with
times because now we find
ourselves performing in virtual
festivals, something we have
never thought of before.
“Obviously the national
lockdown has been strenuous
for the majority of artists and the
festival was one way for some
artists who have not had shows
for months to make some
m o n e y.”
Gegana is the founder of the
Mlungisi Music Academy that
was founded two years ago and
teaches music to township
yo u t h .
The academy continues to
seek assistance from local
businesses and institutions to
buy musical instruments for its
more than 50 registered
students.
Ve t e r a n s ’ families get
much needed food
ZINTLE BOBELO
Families of military veterans
were delighted when they were
gifted with food parcels at Hani
Phama Military Veterans
Suburbs on Sunday.
South African National
Military Veterans Ass ociation
chairperson in the Chris Hani
region, Sipho Ngwetsheni, said
47 food packages were given to
destitute families, courtesy of
the department of social
development and Chris Hani
District Municipality.
“These family members did
not benefit during the pandemic
and we thank both institutions
for this contribution,” said
Ngwetsheni.
One of the beneficiaries,
Nomandla Mjezu, thanked
everyone involved for assisting
the families.
“It feels like a huge weight
has been lifted off our shoulders.
“We are a family of four and
the food packages will make a
huge difference.
“Times are hard during this
pandemic because we do not
get piece jobs.
“I hope they will continue
providing us, even in the
coming months.
“Thank you to Ngwetsheni
for helping us during this time. ”
Another beneficiary, Siyeko
Fudumele, said: “The packages
are enough to last us the whole
month, and as a result, those
who received packages before
us wish they had received
similar food items.
“I am more than happy and
thank the government and the
association for providing them.
We were not forgotten.
“I live off pension money
THANK YOU: Food packages handed out to grateful residents
of the Hani Phama Military Veterans Suburbs over the weekend
Picture: SUPPLIED
and we also have to buy
medication and food.
“We know there are people
who do not qualify for food
relief from the government.
“It is great to know there are
leaders who knock on doors to
get assistance so that people like
us can benefit. I am truly
t h a n k f u l ,” said Fudumele.
ICT forum is launched
ANDISA BONANI
The Chris Hani District Business
Forum is set to establish several
sector forums to revive local
economic development that
young people can participate in.
An ICT sector forum was
launched on Tuesday.
Four young role players in
the information and
communication technology
(ICT) sector from the various
local municipalities in the Chris
Hani district have been
appointed as part of an interim
ICT forum structure, with two
others still to be included.
The business forum’s
secretary, Sakile Mvana, said:
“For the first time in the
existence of the business forum
we are proud to have launched
the IT sector forum, because
previously the construction
forum was the dominant
formation.
“We ’ve now decided to
reach out to as many sectors as
we can, so they may receive
assistance where it is required.”
ICT forum interim structure
member Thozama Njotini, who
serves as provincial chairperson
for the Black Information
Technology Forum (BITF), said
their aim wa s to create
opportunities for local SMMEs.
“Several government fibre
contracts have been awarded to
big businesses from outside the
p r ov i n c e .
“We ’ve found that one of the
key hindrances to local SMMEs
is the lack of accreditation,
especially in rural areas, so it is
important for an ICT forum to
exist in this area.
“We want to ensure
partnership of small businesses
with the bigger ones as subcontractors,
so there are job
opportunities, and for them to
learn new work from
established businesses.”
Forum member Lazola
Pukwana said informal
businesses needed to be
included in the sector.
“There are many internet
cafes, DSTV installers and
others that operate informally
and therefore cannot receive
assistance when required,
because their businesses are not
registered. Our role is to ensure
their registration and conduct
training, when necessary, to
upskill people.”
GROWING SECTOR: Chris Hani District Business Forum secretary, Sakile Mvana, left, with the
newly-appointed members of the ICT forum Thozama Njotini, Sonwabile Antoni and Lazola
Pukwana during a recent press briefing. The new forum’s aim is to assist SMMEs to become
registered, trained and upskilled and thus not miss out on local business opportunities that arise
Picture: ANDISA BONANI