Penny Penny labels Hlaudi Motsoeneng a 'tribalist and racist'

Legendary disco singer Penny Penny has levelled strong accusations against SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng, after allegedly being snubbed from an SABC-hosted financial support initiative, which saw music legends receive R50 000 from the public broadcaster during a breakfast ceremony.

Speaking to Sunday World, the singer lashed out Hlaudi, accusing him of excluding Limpopo artists because they're Tsonga, and subsequently labelled him "tribalist and racist."

"What he did is tribalism, and even racism, because Tsonga artists are not taken seriously by the SABC," he told the local publication.

"We didn't even get an invite to be part of the event. That, to me, says he does not think we are legends. We also need that money. I can't say 'no' to money."

Penny Penny further claimed he received a call from a concerned Stanley Mathabatha, who is the Limpopo Premier, to find out why he, alongside other Limpopo artists, were not included in the initiative, before taking the matter up to Hlaudi himself.

According to the Shaka Bundu hitmaker, Hlaudi told him that he would look into the matter.

However, speaking to TMG Entertainment, SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago claimed that Penny Penny called the public broadcaster to deny having spoken to Sunday World.

"We were phoned by Penny Penny, who denied that he said all of those things about Hlaudi Motsoeneng and the SABC," he said.

He further insisted that there is no justification for anyone to claim that they've been excluded from the SABC initiative, because there is not a single artist that has been paid yet.

"The mere fact that you were not invited to the event, where we announced the initiative for artists, does not necessarily mean that you are excluded. We only invited artists who are based in Gauteng, because they're closer.

"We have not paid anyone, because we were busy with the elections. And secondly, we are trying to talk to SARS, so that they can be exempted from paying tax," Kaizer explained.