Awards-winning artists still not paid
According to some of the winners the scheduled date for their payment came and went without any payment and they later received SMS's of apology.
MBOMBELA – The Mpumalanga Gospel Music Awards winners have still not been paid. The organisers say there has been a misunderstanding on the side of the sponsors.
Mr Sandile Ngobe, organiser of the awards, says they have been given a runaround by the sponsors since December.
“The initial agreement was that all the money promised would be paid up by the day of the event. It is with regret that even today, we are still dealing with the same issue. We are still being told that the money is still being processed,” said Ngobe.
Although a few sponsors such as Together Funerals, Indalo Hotels and Resorts, Joshua Doore and Mozmas have paid up, an enormous R200 000 still remains outstanding, according to Ngobe.
“Artists have complained to the point where I didn’t know what to tell them. We had to resort to our main sponsor, Mathews Phosa & Associates, to ask for the rest of the money in order to pay the artists,” he added.
Mpumalanga News spoke to a couple of artists and they have confirmed that they had not yet received any payment. “I received an apology in the form of an SMS, saying that the money will be paid up. They were just experiencing glitches with the sponsors. I was told to forward my banking details, which I did, but the money is not paid in yet. I totally understand, such things happen,” said song of the year winner, Donny Ngwenyama.
Best female artist winner, Pretty Mhlongo, substantiated the matter and told us that she also received two SMSs apologising for the delay and alerting them that the payments would me made no later than February 14.
“The date came and went, and the money is still not there. I later received another SMS apologising for the matter and stating that it is was being addressed,” said Pretty.
Ngoma said although this proved to be a major setback for them as an establishing brand, they had learnt a lot and intend to improve this year. “We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the affected parties, their patience with us is recognised and appreciated. This year we will do things better and we will ensure that such things are not repeated,” he added.
According to him, the winners have now been grouped in two categories, A and B. Category B, which are individual winners, will be paid on March 21. Category B, groups and radio stations, will be paid no later than end of April.
