By: Siyabonga Sithole
Organisers of the Arise Benefit Concert set for Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban on 18 June 2021 have set themselves a target of raising R10 million in tickets sales and pledges. The concert is a relief response aimed at raising funds for victims of the recent floods in Durban.
This concert comes after the devastating floods, resulted in 435 people losing their lives, 54 reported missing, 55 injured, 6 278 left homeless, 17,438 households destroyed with a further 121,687 people affected and 7,490 people living in shelters.
Many surviving families are yet to locate family members who have since lost their lives during the devastation that has since been declared a ‘national state of disaster’ by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The effects of the floods on 11 and 12 of April, when parts of KwaZulu-Natal received between 200 and 400 mm of rainfall in a 24-hour period are still being felt to this day with many businesses having stopped production in the subsequent aftermath.
The organisers say they have were touched to do something after the provincial government and Premier of KZN, Sihle Zikalala, called on individuals, civil society and other stakeholders to come forward as the R1 billion relief fund set aside by the President was not enough to address the extent of the damage and devastation caused by the floods in parts of KZN and Eastern Cape.
Speaking at the launch held at the M1 Studios at the SABC in Auckland Park on Tuesday, Chairperson of the National Arts Council, Princess Celenhle Dlamini said the coming together of music stakeholders was necessary in order to help the province rebuild its capacity to deliver essential services.
”Firstly, as the National Arts Council, we would like to extend our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to all families who have lost their loved ones through this devastating period, as well as those injured and who have lost so much. We cannot even begin to imagine the grief, suffering and despair that the communities affected by these floods are enduring,” Dlamini said.
Dr Sipho Sithole who is one of the organisers of the concert said a call out was sent to all SABC radio stations to contribute on the list of more than 34 artists who were unveiled as part of the line-up.
“To ensure that the line-up is reflective of the talent that is relevant to this event, we consulted with all the SABC radio stations to send out their list of artists. Even though we could not include everyone, we have ensured that the 34 artists on the line-up are of the best standards,” Sithole said.
He said a further 17 artists and 4 MCs have presented by Dj Boonu’s Doo More Foundation to perform at a parallel stage within the stadium precinct.
Among those on the line-up are acts such as AKA, DJ Tira, Dlala Mshunqisi, Zonke, Babes Wodumo, Big Zulu, Zulu Boy, Dumi Mkokstad, Zakwe, and many others.
The concert is hosted alongside organisations such as SABC, Gearhouse SA, SAMRO, CAPASSO, SAMPRA, CCIFSA, CCIFSA KZN, Doo More Foundation, and local artists who have agreed to be part of this social benefit concert.