THE OR Tambo District Municipality turned the dreams of the members of the OR Tambo Gospel Music Structure into reality as they received musical instruments last week.
Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Community Services in the OR Tambo District Municipality, Councillor Nontyatyambo Gcingca, together with the MMC for Rural and Economic Development of King Sabatha Dalindyebo (KSD) Local Municipality, Councillor Mkhanyiseli Dudumayo, handed over the musical instruments to this organisation.
The chairperson of OR Tambo Gospel Music Structure, Sonwabile Senene, confirmed that they were still shocked and their prayer was answered by this municipality.
He confirmed that they had made their request several times, but were happy that the municipality did something about it.
“We have written a letter requesting a gospel festival that we want to host in September every year. We will call it OR Tambo Gospel Annual Heritage Festival,” said Senene.
He added that they started this structure because they wanted to groom the talent of new artists, and to ensure that they are also known.
Senene said that they thanked Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC) by assisting them with four guitars, and gave them assistance with their computers and telephones.
He confirmed that they also had a recording with Instar Tall Company, Overseas, and at the Mirriam Makeba Studio in East London, through the help of DSRAC.
He added that they had won awards from Amaqhawe Gospel Competition and Mpumakoloni International Gospel Music Awards (MKIGMA).
MMC of OR Tambo District Municipality, Councillor Nontyatyambo Dyantyi, said that they had handed over equipment to Gospel Artists of the OR Tambo District, with the aim of uplifting them.
“This equipment was requested by this association to give support in their programmes because some of them do not even have keyboards,” said Dyantyi.
She added that this association is made up of artists from all the municipalities that are under OR Tambo.
Dyantyi said that some of the artists do not have instruments; they rely on hiring which is not good for them, because they end up using the money they received when they had performed in functions.
“They will now manage to grow because they will use their money for other things instead of hiring equipment. We have taken this action with the aim of assisting them.”
