New InfoJustice blog post on Daily Maverick Article 鈥淧olitics, Patronage, and a Front Organisation Delay Vital Reform鈥
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Amidst the copyright reform debate in South Africa, the Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa (CCIFSA) recently initiated its #NationalShutDownMarch campaign, in opposition of the reform. The article highlights how the CCIFSA has positioned itself as a quasi-political movement to mobilise support for the ANC and its leading figures. Moreover, there has been no clarity as to how the CCIFSA spends the large funding given to it by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. In an attempt to disrupt the democratic process and debates surrounding the Copyright Amendment Bill, members of the CCIFSA also disrupted stakeholder engagement during live workshops held in various instances. In this context, is important for the democratic process to be exercised in a manner that is open, free, and fair.