ANC YOUTH LEAGUE IS NOT PART OF THE PROGRAMME TO BOYCOTT THE FIFA JUNE 10 CONCERT:

02 June 2010

The African National Congress Youth League is not part of the programme to boycott the June 10 FIFA Concert in Soweto, Orlando Stadium. The ANC Youth League has had engagements with the Creative Workers Union of South Africa (CWUSA) and wrote an urgent letter to FIFA, SAFA and the Presidency requesting audience on our plea that local artists should be allowed to showcase South Africa's music and talent during the festivity.

The ANC Youth League's stance has forever been that we are not opposed to the inclusion of international artists in the concert, but that South African and African artists should prominently feature in the concert, including on prime time slots of the concert. We are of the conviction that a music festival in Soweto in June should amongst other things commemorate the struggles of young people who fought against exclusion that was perpetuated through the imposition of language. The concert should never be allowed to be a way of excluding South African artists, particularly locally brewed music such as Kwaito music on an international platform that comes once in a lifetime.

The ANC Youth League will during the course of this week, meet with FIFA, the LOC and all relevant stakeholders to raise and emphasise the point that local artists should be included in the concerts, including on prime time slots.

Statement issued by Floyd Shivambu, ANC Youth League spokesperson, June 2 2010

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