Kiviet urges E.Cape to be hospitable to tourists

Eastern Cape Premier Noxolo Kiviet(SABC)

Tags:

• Noxolo Kiviet
• (South Africa Traditional Music Awards) SATMA
• Eastern Cape
• National Heritage Council
• Sonwabile Mancotywa
• Walter Sisulu University
• ICC in Buffalo City

Eastern Cape Premier Noxolo Kiviet has urged the community to welcome visitors and tourists who attend major events such as the South Africa Traditional Music Awards (SATMA).

The SATMA's are being staged in the Eastern Cape for the first time this year after being moved from KwaZulu-Natal.  The province will host the awards for the next three years. The launch was held at the Walter Sisulu University in Mthatha yesterday and the main award ceremony will be held at the East London ICC in Buffalo City on October 27.

Kiviet says they must make sure that the hospitality industry works like 'well oiled marketing machinery', to put the Eastern Cape on the world map.

Meanwhile, National Heritage Council chief executive officer, Sonwabile Mancotywa, has called on the government to establish legislation that will protect the songs of local traditional artists.

Mancotywa was speaking at the launch. He says traditional artists' rights are violated and exploited daily by foreign music companies, because they are not protected.

He notes that other artists go to court and fight for the rights to their songs.