NATIONAL ASSEMBLY THURSDAY, 14 MARCH 2019

Page: 9

It is also for this reason that the EFF government will promote the study of South African material at our schools. It is also for this reason that the government of the EFF will pay royalties owed to living and departed musicians, including processing historical claims. This is because we respect intellectual property.

Furthermore, the EFF government will replace the Southern African Music Rights Organisation, Samro, with a state- owned entity which will be tasked with looking after the financial interests of musicians, song writers and composers, and to protect their intellectual property. So, we do support both these reports by the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry. Thank you.

Chair, as we strive towards creating a just, effective and co-operative international order, cognisance must be taken of the fact that digital technology and the internet are part of everyday life for most people. In fact, as of June 2018, it was estimated that as much as 55% of the world's population had