The inaugural Vuka Sizwe Benefit Concert will be hosted by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) on Sunday, 28 October at Old Jo’burg Park Station. The aim of the concert is to honour Busi Mhlongo, the musical maestro and Durban born diva, who is currently battling with breast cancer. She is also celebrating her 60th birthday. The concert will be broadcast live on SABC2 at 20:00, and will coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A courtesy visit by the SABC delegation, which was headed by Adv Dali Mpofu, to Busi Mhlongo further accelerated the initiative, and Busi requested that Mpofu make certain that the initiative takes place as soon as possible. On his return to the offices, Mpofu assigned Sipho Sithole, the head of Group Strategy and Risk Management to lead the project, as he had experience in the music industry. According to Dali Mpofu, who is also the Group CEO of the SABC, “as the custodian of South Africa’s cultural expressions and tradition, the SABC is committed to the creation of a strong and viable music industry which it believes will contribute to the fight against poverty, enhance job creation leading to the development of an economic empowerment model, cultural self determination and economic independence amongst musicians”. It was further stated that the Vuka Sizwe Benefit Concert was part of the SABC Green Revolution Campaign, which would see SABC taking an active part in: the development of all music and a platform for this; collaboration and partnership with both the public and private sector in developing the music industry; providing a platform for identifying, developing and nurturing talent; and creating a secure social security program for musicians. The benefit concert also aims to raise funds for charitable causes, creating cancer awareness and continuing the fight against cancer. It will assist in the establishment of the first South Africa Social Security Trust Fund for Musicians, and to Busi Mhlongo’s medical bills in her cancer treatment. Busi Mhlongo is a talented singer, dancer and composer. Her music has within it elements of jazz, funk, rock, gospel, rap, opera, reggae and West African sounds, drawing inspiration from mbaganga, maskanda, marabi and traditional Zulu music. The Vuka Sizwe Benefit will see Busi Mhlongo joined by a fantastic line-up of South African artists, including: Gloria Bosman; Max Mntambo; Judith Sephuma; Simphiwe Dana; Thandiswa Mazwai; Ringo Madlingozi; Sibongile Khumalo; and others. The evening will also be hosted by MC’s Pepsi Pokane, DJ Sbu and KG Moeketsi. The concert will be broadcast from 20:00 on SABC2. There are only 1 000 tickets available at Computicket for R140 each. Further details can be obtained by contacting 011 728 6452. For more information, contact Kaizer Kganyago at 011 714 4900.