Ntokozo Mbambo taking home three awards at SAMA29 on Saturday had Kelly Khumalo up in arms on social media.
The gospel star's Lavish Worship album saw her take home the Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Best Contemporary Faith Album.
Kelly, whose From A God To A King album had her nominated under the Best Afro-Pop Album and Female Artist of the Year category, saw her get snubbed, and she went to her timeline to express her frustration.
In a series of X posts that have since been deleted, Kelly claimed the winnings at the awards were all arranged.
“She knows she doesn’t deserve it. Numbers don’t lie. Even Ntokozo knows numbers don’t lie. We are not scared of her. Fuseg Samas,” she wrote in the deleted posts.
Thandiswa Mazwai, Hle and Kelly's former BFF Brenda Mtambo were among the celebrities who took to the timeline to show Ntokozo support, assuring her she was worthy of her achievement.
“Congratulations Ntokozo. That voice deserves all the awards. It soothes and gives hope,” Thandiswa wrote.
TshisaLIVE reached out to RiSA communications manager and Sama's spokesperson Lesley Mofokeng for comment regarding Kelly's claims that the awards were rigged and he refuted her statements saying their systems had proven to be credible for the past 29 years.
"If anyone at all has proof to substantiate the claim that the SAMAs are rigged they should come forward so we can investigate. Our systems have proven to have integrity and we use the best in the industry and we stand by those results. We don't look at radio play, we don't look at airtime, popularity, fame, and the following. All we consider is the body that you present in front of us," he said.
"For the record, the SAMA would like to state that we celebrate the wins of Ntokozo Mbambo, and we are very proud of her achievements and we are very encouraged by the support we saw playing out on social media."
Take a look at the X posts below:
‘Oksalayo’ — Brenda Mtambo and other celebs rally behind Ntokozo’s Sama win after Kelly Khumalo’s rant
Ntokozo Mbambo taking home three awards at SAMA29 on Saturday had Kelly Khumalo up in arms on social media.
The gospel star's Lavish Worship album saw her take home the Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Best Contemporary Faith Album.
Kelly, whose From A God To A King album had her nominated under the Best Afro-Pop Album and Female Artist of the Year category, saw her get snubbed, and she went to her timeline to express her frustration.
In a series of X posts that have since been deleted, Kelly claimed the winnings at the awards were all arranged.
“She knows she doesn’t deserve it. Numbers don’t lie. Even Ntokozo knows numbers don’t lie. We are not scared of her. Fuseg Samas,” she wrote in the deleted posts.
Thandiswa Mazwai, Hle and Kelly's former BFF Brenda Mtambo were among the celebrities who took to the timeline to show Ntokozo support, assuring her she was worthy of her achievement.
“Congratulations Ntokozo. That voice deserves all the awards. It soothes and gives hope,” Thandiswa wrote.
TshisaLIVE reached out to RiSA communications manager and Sama's spokesperson Lesley Mofokeng for comment regarding Kelly's claims that the awards were rigged and he refuted her statements saying their systems had proven to be credible for the past 29 years.
"If anyone at all has proof to substantiate the claim that the SAMAs are rigged they should come forward so we can investigate. Our systems have proven to have integrity and we use the best in the industry and we stand by those results. We don't look at radio play, we don't look at airtime, popularity, fame, and the following. All we consider is the body that you present in front of us," he said.
"For the record, the SAMA would like to state that we celebrate the wins of Ntokozo Mbambo, and we are very proud of her achievements and we are very encouraged by the support we saw playing out on social media."
Take a look at the X posts below:
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