Organisers of Samas fume at claims awards ceremony is a 'looting frenzy'

South African Music Awards (Samas) organisers have rejected claims that millions of rand in funding from the KwaZulu-Natal government would have turned into a “feeding trough for politicians”.

“We note with dismay that a prestigious, credible and apolitical national cultural asset that has been in operation for 29 years, longer than any other awards ceremony in South Africa and the continent, has been characterised as a conduit for looting.

“This is an assertion we, as the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA), reject. It is problematic that an institution of great importance to the pulse of our cultural economy has been violated for cheap politicking,” RiSA CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi said.

Sibisi's comments follow an announcement by KZN economic development, tourism and environmental affairs (Edtea) MEC Siboniso Duma on Wednesday that the awards will not take place as scheduled.

Sibisi expressed disappointment at the 11th-hour withdrawal of the department's funding and hosting of the awards.

“We have a three-year contract with Edtea and will consult our contractual partners to find out what led to this decision and find a way forward,” he said.

The awards were to take place on November 17-18 at the Durban International Convention Centre.

Duma said the decision was informed by consultations with the KZN executive council and other stakeholders. 

Edtea had applied to the provincial treasury for an administrative transfer of funds from parts of the budget to allow it to raise, initially R28m but later R20m, to host the awards.

Opposition parties objected and wrote to President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Duma canned the controversial sponsorship after Ramaphosa advised him it was not in good taste given the state of the public purse.

ActionSA also highlighted that the eThekwini municipality had committed R25m for the Samas.

Sibisi rejected “spurious allegations” and said their conversation with eThekwini had been about infrastructure and logistics support and did not include any financial contribution.

“Losers in the sudden turn of events are the musicians and creatives who often receive the short end of the stick.

“The Samas was going to directly create more than 150 new job opportunities. The Samas was in the process of confirming up to 350 rooms per night in various hotels between November 12 and 20. These hotel groups would have further benefited from providing accommodation to the estimated 3,500 to 4,000 South African music supporters who would have visited the province from across the country, the continent and the world.”

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