Cape Town – The GOOD Party says it is “disappointed” that Big Concerts and the Minister of Home Affairs have been “unwilling to discuss our concerns” regarding the upcoming Chris Brown concert.
“In less than a month, a convicted perpetrator of gender-based violence will be afforded a celebrity platform in South Africa,” the GOOD Party said on Monday, (18 November 2024).
“On the 22nd of October, the GOOD Party Secretary-General Brett Herron emailed the Minister of Home Affairs Dr. Leon Schreiber via the official departmental email address and included Schreiber’s senior assistant in the mail.”
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Herron urged the minister to declare United States R&B artist Chris Brown an “undesirable person” in terms of Section 30 of the Immigration Act.
Having noted Daily Maverick reports on 31 October 2024 quoting the minister saying: “I have not received anything on that front officially, but I suppose what I can say is what I’ve been saying from day one in the department… that we will be guided by the law when we take decisions in Home Affairs…“, Herron once again followed up on 12 November 2024.
“This email was sent to the minister’s direct email address and once again included his senior assistant,” the party said.
“GOOD is yet to receive a response or even an acknowledgment of the email.”
GOOD said on 7 November 2024, the party reached out to Big Concerts via their communications team, TPW, requesting a meeting with them, and NGO Women for Change.
“After no response was received the Managing Director of TPW was contacted telephonically and confirmed the request was received and sent to Big Concerts,” the party said.
“And still we wait.
“Whatever the decision is by these two entities, it is important to engage in constructive dialogue.
“As a country, we have a responsibility to prove we are taking Gender-based violence seriously.”
The GOOD Party said the current silence was deafening.
“The victims of GBVF deserve better and as GOOD we will continue to try and engage on this issue,” said the party.
“We need to stand in a collective voice and say ‘No to abuse’.”
