Grahamstown writer and poet Thandazile Madinda is the new chairperson of the regional branch of the recently formed Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa (CCIFSA).
Grahamstown writer and poet Thandazile Madinda is the new chairperson of the regional branch of the recently formed Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa (CCIFSA).
On Wednesday last week, the Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa (CCIFSA), held elections for Sarah Baartman district council at City Hall.
The elections consisted of Sarah Baartman municipalities, with Makana Municipality artists dominating in all sectors. CCIFSA is a controlling body for the cultural and creative sectors in South Africa, set up with the assistance of the Department of Arts and Culture.
It was formed as a non-profit company to promote and develop the social and economic interests of the cultural and creative industries.
The company is governed by a Board of Directors in accordance with the CCIFSA Memorandum of Incorporation. Two representatives from each different art sector were elected to form a district structure.
Thandazile Madinda, a writer and poet, who has been involved with arts councils for nearly 15 years, was appointed as the chairperson of the Sarah Baartman district structure.
Xolile Madinda, the director of the Fingo Festival, hip hop pioneer and activist, was voted as CCIFSA district coordinator.
Vuyisile Pokwana who was sent by CCIFSA to coordinate the elections, made it clear that the federation is not for developing individuals or their organizations, but to help develop different art sectors in the district.
He also pointed out that the demands of artists come before those of the federation committee representatives.
Thandazile and Xolile will later call another meeting to elect an organised structure for the council.
CCIFSA's strategic objective is to improve access to finance in the sector, to encourage and facilitate the setting up of platforms, networks and clusters between all public and private creative sector stakeholders.
With a firm commitment from government and strong support in the form of legislature and policy, CCISFA seems positioned favourably to positively impact the creative industries in South Africa.
