LOCAL MUSIC GIANTS SLAM IMITATING FRAUDSTERS

MBABANE – Local gospel music giants are spewing poison at alleged fraudsters who are imitating them in South Africa.

Pastor Vusi Shiba of Shiba and the Travellers and Reverend Elias Shongwe of Shongwe ne Khuphuka expressed their frustrations after they discovered that alleged fraudsters were imitating them and selling fake CDs of their music on South African streets.
The artists, who were interviewed separately, confirmed that they received numerous calls from South Africa where they were informed that certain people were pretending to be them or giving the idea that they were sent by them to sell their music.
Shongwe, a popular gospel artist whose music is known in most parts of the African continent, said he was saddened by these unlawful acts as he said these people were reaping what they did not sow and this practice frustrated them as artists as it was not something new.

“This has become a common practice especially in South Africa, we are helpless and hurt. This thing is happening even now and the sad part is that it is hurting our music careers. These people sell fake CDs and it is our names that go down the drain when people encounter complications with the fake CDs,” Shongwe said.

He added that he was told that a certain person was found selling his music and according to onlookers the person allegedly told them he was sent by the famous artist to sell and distribute his music.
When asked on what steps he had taken to deal with this, Shongwe said he tried tackling it but it was unsuccessful.

“We are pleading with people to stop this as they are destroying our music careers. We are suffering because of these things,” he said.
Shiba advised their fans to buy music from music stores or directly from them.

Called

“I was recently called and told that a person was selling my music in Johannesburg. These people are everywhere and they defraud our fans by promising to deliver our music to them, which they never do.
“We have worked hard to build our brands and it is painful to see people bringing it down like that,” he said.

He added that these people were smart because they bought the original CD then copied it and pretended to be selling original copies. He said some even printed out T-shirts with their albums sleeves on them to appear legitimate agents sent by the original musicians. ACASWA condemned these unlawful acts and said these people would receive their punishment, one way or the other.

“What is happening is very bad. We do not fight our battles but our God does on our behalf. Having said that, may our law enforcers take action to curb this daylight robbery. God’s ways are peculiar and higher than our human comprehension but He also uses other ways to fight our battles and in this case, He can use law enforcers, who will need our assistance in enforcing same,” ACASWA Convener Mathokoza Mtetwa said.

Urging

He added by urging artists to act promptly whenever they come across this rot.
“Governments of both countries have, unfortunately, enacted laws to curb this rot, which we highly appreciate as artists. Artists are advised against taking the law into their own hands  but rather trust those entrusted with that responsibility and go on to assist them by providing the required information and be ready to give evidence in court ,” he added.

He then discouraged people from buying fake CDs. 
While speaking on behalf of the police, Chief Police Information Communication Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said it was a complicated matter for them since it was out of their jurisdiction.
“We advise artists to approach and consult with the legal structures and organisations in South Africa,” she said.
Mandla ‘Cheeks’ Nxumalo of Leserato Events said the news broke his heart.

“It is really disappointing to hear of such and very much disheartening. Music is someone’s intellectual property, in the same way as a house is a property, and artists need to be paid for the use of that property, and the rights over that property needs to be protected.

Discouraged

Such acts are hugely discouraged and we urge the public and law enforcement officers to clamp down on this, by both buying original material and also bringing the perpetrators to face the wrath of the law,” Nxumalo said.
A South African man, Obedingwa Sibanda, said he was conned E600 by people who claimed to be representing Shiba and the Travellers.

“I ordered CDs and DVDs from them but now they have disappeared. I was trying to support gospel music artists,” he said.
It is worth noting that local artists are protected by the Copyright Act of 2015.

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