MUSICIANS at Vhembe district municipality in Limpopo are angry after two men convicted of dealing in counterfeit goods were yesterday given a sentence which they say is a slap on the wrist.
Jacob Mashava and Armando Chauke were yesterday fined R1500 or three months' imprisonment each by the Malamulele Magistrate's Court.
Mashava of Xiphuraphureni settlement in Malamulele and Chauke of Fourteen settlement pleaded guilty after they were found with bags full of fake CDs at Malamulele on September 11 last year.
Magistrate Daniel Maluleke found that the two men were first offenders and that by pleading guilty they did not waste the court's time.
Before they were sentenced, musician Thomas Chauke pleaded for a harsh sentence. Chauke said the costs of CDs found in their possession, including recording costs, amounted to R300,000.
"They are killing our business and we implore you to set an example," Chauke told the magistrate.
However, he would be disappointed after their sentencing, which he said was a slap on the wrist. "It will encourage other people to sell pirated copies," he said.
Renowned poet Mzwakhe Mbuli, who has been very vocal about piracy, said he was not happy with the punishment meted out to the two.
"I don't think their punishment is acceptable. These people are robbing us of our hard-earned money and they are not severely punished. Their punishment does not set an example to others. However, we remain hopeful because Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said even those who buy counterfeit goods will be arrested," Mbuli said.
He said he knew of two cases where people were convicted for being in possession of counterfeit goods.
"Zhoran Chen, who was convicted by the Johannesburg Commercial Crimes Court after a raid at a warehouse in Dragon City, was sentenced to three years. The following year, a foreign national was sentenced to five years after being found in possession of 135000 fake CDs and DVDs."
The secretary of Vhembe musicians, Pat Maluleke, also expressed anger at the punishment. "We are going to hold a meeting with other musicians to map the way forward," said Maluleke.
TS Records' TK Nciza said: "In 2007 we had a R1-billion industry. Now it is worth only R350-million. I feel police should be doing more."
Fury over sentence for music pirates
MUSICIANS at Vhembe district municipality in Limpopo are angry after two men convicted of dealing in counterfeit goods were yesterday given a sentence which they say is a slap on the wrist.
Jacob Mashava and Armando Chauke were yesterday fined R1500 or three months' imprisonment each by the Malamulele Magistrate's Court.
Mashava of Xiphuraphureni settlement in Malamulele and Chauke of Fourteen settlement pleaded guilty after they were found with bags full of fake CDs at Malamulele on September 11 last year.
Magistrate Daniel Maluleke found that the two men were first offenders and that by pleading guilty they did not waste the court's time.
Before they were sentenced, musician Thomas Chauke pleaded for a harsh sentence. Chauke said the costs of CDs found in their possession, including recording costs, amounted to R300,000.
"They are killing our business and we implore you to set an example," Chauke told the magistrate.
However, he would be disappointed after their sentencing, which he said was a slap on the wrist. "It will encourage other people to sell pirated copies," he said.
Renowned poet Mzwakhe Mbuli, who has been very vocal about piracy, said he was not happy with the punishment meted out to the two.
"I don't think their punishment is acceptable. These people are robbing us of our hard-earned money and they are not severely punished. Their punishment does not set an example to others. However, we remain hopeful because Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said even those who buy counterfeit goods will be arrested," Mbuli said.
He said he knew of two cases where people were convicted for being in possession of counterfeit goods.
"Zhoran Chen, who was convicted by the Johannesburg Commercial Crimes Court after a raid at a warehouse in Dragon City, was sentenced to three years. The following year, a foreign national was sentenced to five years after being found in possession of 135000 fake CDs and DVDs."
The secretary of Vhembe musicians, Pat Maluleke, also expressed anger at the punishment. "We are going to hold a meeting with other musicians to map the way forward," said Maluleke.
TS Records' TK Nciza said: "In 2007 we had a R1-billion industry. Now it is worth only R350-million. I feel police should be doing more."
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