CHAIRMANS REPORT
MOSHITO 2010

Today I want to reflect on three quotes or sayings from three civilizations and relate them to our organisation:

•             May you live in interesting times – Chinese,
•             May you have Builders - Egyptian Curse
•             What kind of car do you drive - South African question during this materialistic age

1. May you live in interesting times - Chinese

Why was 2010/2011 “interesting times”? For many reasons but mainly because we were spurned by our most important partner, when the fire was low, therefore we turned to our good friend who came for support.

This friend is much maligned but someone we can depend on when days are dark and friends are few.

So it was interesting times two years in a row that our long term partner let us down like a jilted lover, our government and that our dependable friend SAMRO came to the partner with resources and innovative ideas.

2. May you have Builders - Egyptian Curse I have heard from others locally and internationally about Moshito. We were approached and written about by UNESCO, by SXSW in the states, at the European Union I was asked to chair an international music panel session on culture as vectors for development, so our reputation on the continent and globally is very well. However it starts at home. It starts with good governance but the most important ingredients for a strong organization are the values of trust and relationships. From board to administration, from partners to participants, throughout our life cycle as Moshito, this will be our Achilles heel.

So for me as your chairman I want to change the curse to a blessing. I believe that Moshito is blessed because we have builders on our board.

These builders are you my colleagues who understand the need to build on the collective vision of strong institutions, whether driven by state or by us, as an industry. Although the realization has come, or one could say it’s been a forced awakening, that we drive this industry, hence my next point is about the drivers and the vehicle.

3. What kind of car do you drive? – A common South African question during this materialistic age. Our country has become an interesting place where we often see the crass flaunting of new wealth and scant regard for the multitudes that live below the bread line. This reality is reflected in that we compete year in and year out for the highest genii coefficient. That's the gap between rich and poor. So at times I would go to an event or party in the north of Jozi and someone would ask what car you drive.

I got to thinking about this in relation to the Moshito vehicle.

•             What kind of vehicle is it?
•             Who drives it?
•             Where is it going?
•             Is there petrol?
•             Is it road worthy and in good enough condition to drive where we
need it to go?
•             Does everyone agree on the direction in the absence of a GPS?

These are some of the questions I think we as the board and the administration need to contemplate for 2010 to 2011 a road trip that has already begun.

My conclusion is that we are living in interesting times and that they are becoming more interesting. That we have the builders but there is much more to be done and many organizations and individuals are expecting the solid building and lastly. That the vehicle is driving but this year we almost had an emergency stop, the fuel bill is still outstanding and we are running on the reserve tank, so it’s high time we make some decisions in relation to the strategic direction and operational needs to drive this Moshito Vehicle to a destination we can all agree on in the interests of our sector.

Andre le Roux
Chairman

General Manager’s Report

As we enter into the pre-production phase for Moshito 2011 it is seems appropriate to reflect on some of the substance of 2010.  that continues to evolve, responding dynamically to its fast changing environment. Despite an incomprehensible 60% budget cut from Minister Xingwana in 2010, Moshito with support from various partners, pooled resources and completed:

• Moshito does Idiski
• Photography Exhibition
• Moshito 2010 including Conference, Exhibition and Showcase
• Mapping live music circuit in South Africa
• Moshito has also played a meaningful role in international networks, namely Equation Musique and the Indian Ocean Music Network.

Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the partners.

Lee Walters
General Manager

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