Despite the local music industry's growth and success, there are key issues that continue to hinder it. Physical piracy, for most of the 1990s, was slowing down its expansion with legislation not being strong enough to protect it.
To date, internet piracy has become an even bigger obstacle, with administrations battling to reduce the cyber theft of musical works.
Russell Crawford, the chairman of the anti-piracy sub-committee of the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA), says there is no way of calculating exactly what the levels of physical piracy are at any given time but by using a formula created by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, "We are able to make an educated assessment of the problem locally".
It is estimated that the music industry loses up to R350 million annually due to piracy.
Local artists have long complained about the shortfalls which they have had to endure due to the high levels of piracy.
On every corner of central business districts across the country, there are informal traders. Most of these unlawfully sell music CDs, cassettes and DVDs.
A "retailer", who asked not to be named, says the key reason why he sells fake material is because he has a family to feed. "At least I don't rob people who, like me, struggle to make ends meet," he says in his defence.
Tshidi Mholo, of Afro-Pop group Malaika, says despite the high levels of unemployment this is no excuse. "The industry continues to suffer due to the lack of sufficient protection of artists' work. Growth is being limited by piracy."
She says: "People are not educated about the effect that piracy has on an artist's performance, career and livelihood."
RiSA launched the Anti Piracy Enforcement Unit (APEU) in 2004. It has been working with numerous organisations which include the Association of Independent Record Companies South Africa.
"Clearly this is a significant investment on behalf of the industry in our efforts to combat piracy both in the physical and digital worlds," says Crawford.
According to APEU statistics, physical piracy in the last five years has decreased by up to 7 percent.
Crawford says: "Digital piracy or the unlawful downloading and sharing of copyrighted music over the internet or via cellphones continues to grow as the way people consume music changes.
"There is no short-term fix in the fight against music piracy."