Presidential meetings go creative

By Ofentse Mokae
16 November 2009

As part of his continuous engagement with different sectors, President Jacob Zuma is expected to meet with musicians and actors to discuss their role and contribution to social cohesion and nation building.

The meeting, scheduled to take place at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg, will also afford the president an opportunity to report back on issues they raised during his first meeting with them last year.

In a statement the Presidency says Zuma will be fulfilling a promise made during the response to the State of the Nation address that government would meet with the creative industry sector to discuss issues affecting them.

“Issues of concern to the artists relate to broadcasting content, intellectual property rights, industry unity, anti-piracy, tax education and participation in 2010 FIFA World Cup activities,” the statement said.

In August Zuma met with principals to outline his expectations on how the education sector should contribute to the broader vision of making things better within the sector.

Also in first of its kind, President Zuma met more than 1,000 police station commanders from across the country in Pretoria on September 29 a week after the annual release of crime statistics painted a grim picture.

The president shared his vision with the station commissioners, and obtained from them, a firsthand account of work from the coalface.

Amid recent service delivery protests across the country, accompanied by his deputy Kgalema Motlanthe, Zuma also met executive mayors and mayors, to discuss the strengthening of the local government sphere last month in Cape Town.

In tomorrow’s meeting, Zuma is expected to be accompanied by members of his cabinet including Ministers in the Presidency Trevor Manuel and Collins Chabane, Arts and Culture Minister Lulu Xingwana and her deputy Paul Mashatile as well as Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane.