Sjava has been removed from the 2020 Cape Town International Jazz Festival.
The festival which will take place on 27 and 28 March 2020 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) is one of the most significant music events on the continent. The event has welcomed stellar local, and international acts to its stages for many years. This year the line-up includes Earl Sweatshirt and the Ndlovu Youth Choir.
Organisers announced the removal of the local artist via a tweet, sent late on Monday night.
In a tweet posted on the official Cape Town International Jazz Festival account, festival organisers announced that “due to the seriousness of the allegations levelled against Sjava” they have decided to pull his performance from the line-up.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the seriousness of the allegations levelled against Sjava, the Management of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival has withdrawn Sjava’s performance from the CTIJF 2020 line up. #CTIJF2020
— CAPE TOWN JAZZ FEST (@CTJazzFest) March 2, 2020
Speaking to IOL Entertainment, the full statement from the event organisers says: “Over the last 20 years the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) has provided a platform to empower and showcase female artists. Due to the serious nature of the allegation levelled against Sjava, the festival management has decided to cancel the artist’s performance at the 2020 Festival.
“As the investigation is still ongoing, the festival is not in a position to comment further at this stage. Any changes to the Festival line-up will be communicated in time.”
Sunday World reported this weekend that Lady Zamar has filed a rape case against Sjava.