#lightSAred event industry campaign

The lightSAred campaign will turn some of SA’s most visible venues and monuments red on Wednesday night to protest stringent lockdown laws. Photo: Twitter/#lightSAred

#LightSAred event industry campaign aims to catch government’s ear

The #lightSAred campaign aims to bring attention to the tough times event and live entertainment industry members are currently facing.

#lightSAred event industry campaign

The lightSAred campaign will turn some of SA’s most visible venues and monuments red on Wednesday night to protest stringent lockdown laws. Photo: Twitter/#lightSAred

Members of South Africa’s event and entertainment industries, which have been some of the most direly affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, have had enough of restrictive lockdown measures and have embarked on the #LightSAred campaign on Wednesday evening 5 August.

The #LightSAred campaign aims to bring government’s attention to members of the affected industry’s plight, and they are calling on the government to extend financial relief to those who earn a living in the technical production and live events industry until they are permitted to resume work.

If you look outside tonight, you may well catch more than just a glimpse of red as the industry pools together it’s connections and takes aim at government. 

#LightSAred campaign say that industry is at a standstill  

On the organisations official website, they said that they cannot go on as an industry for much longer without a concerted effort from government.

“Our aim is to be acknowledged by the South African government and to come up with an itinerary to keep our industry alive,” they said.

“The event industry has been hit exceptionally hard and affects a range of people and companies from artists to freelancers, theatres and venues, equipment suppliers and various other trades within. #LightSAred aims to draw attention to this crisis,”

They said that the closure of their industry was sudden, and that they had little room to pivot or make alternative financing arrangements when the lockdown came into effect.

“Before we knew it, all schools were closed and gatherings greater than 50 people were banned. At that moment, every stakeholder in the events and theatre industry was forced to come to terms with the reality that our industry would be the first to feel the impact and would likely be the last to recover from the economic tsunami set off by the COVID-19 quake.”

#lightSAred Campaign making host of demands to government  

They are making several demands of government that they hope will bring an element of respite to the lives of embattled industry workers 

#LightSARed is demanding the following:

  • Government and financial institutions extend financial relief to those who earn a living in the technical production and live events industry until we are permitted to resume work.
  • Government engage with elected leaders within SACIA and the SA Events Council, and provide a platform for our voices to be heard.
  • That the government recognise and support the Non-Profit Organisations that are trying to sustain destitute members of the technical production and live events industry.

“We refuse to be the forgotten industry,” they said. 

“For decades our industry has brought smiles to faces, we’ve provided entertainment with theatre productions, political rallies, sports events, festivals and so much more to South Africa. We are usually behind the scenes, but we are now standing up to #LightSARed and make our voice heard.”

SA venues and monuments set to be lit red on Wednesday 5 August 

The #LightSARed campaign have pooled together several industry contacts and have announced that the following venues will be lit up on Wednesday night from 18:00 to 20:00, with the most dramatic site set to turn scarlet being Table Mountain in Cape Town. 

  • Cape Town – Table Mountain, Greenpoint Stadium, Cape Town City Hall, Cape Town Castle, Civic Centre, The Big Wheel (V&A Waterfront) and Clock Tower at Nelson Mandela Gateway.
  • Johannesburg – Northcliff Water Tower, Montecasino, Kyalami, City Hall in Umhlanga and Hot FM Radio Station.
  • Durban – Durban City Hall, Moses Mabhida Stadium, Old Prison Wall at ICC, Durban Jewish Club and Durban Libraries