As a result, ANN7 will be refunding tickets, and the show will return to being a private invitation-only do. According to organisers, Aguilera had to withdraw due to schedule changes on recordings for The Voice, which requires her to be in America during the awards on October 17.
Due to the change in the line-up, organisers will be refunding ticket fees to ticket holders and the show, which was initially opened to the public, will become a private event like last year.
The official statement from the award show organisers reads: “The SATY organisers would like to apologise to all ticket holders for the inconvenience. Ticketpro are already contacting ticket holders to arrange for the refund of their ticket fees. Anyone who has not heard from Ticketpro should call their call centre to ensure prompt refunding takes place.”
There are unconfirmed reports that low ticket sales for the event also caused organisers to be forced to refund tickets.
Organisers are apparently trying to get another international act to appear at the now-private ceremony to join Jason Derulo and a handful of South African artists. The show will be broadcast live on ANN7.
Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.