A music royalties campaign dubbed “Now or Never” has made a call to the 25 000 members of the South African Music Rights Organisation (Samro) to be part of the media conference to be held on Sunday.
This comes after Sunday World had published an explosive article two weeks ago, where Samro CEO and board members were accused of corruption by the businessman and member of the collection society, Owen Ndlovu.
Samro sued over R60m irregular payments
Ndlovu took Samro to the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court over allegations that more than R60-million belonging to the members who are composers, musicians, publishers, and others was allegedly looted at the organisation under the watch of the management and board members.
The Now or Never convener, Tronix Madibe, said that the media conference is aimed at addressing challenges faced by the members. These include the demand from Samro to explain how R60-million was looted.
“You are invited to a critical press conference addressing corruption at Samro, the very institution that is supposed to protect our rights and royalties.
“This building belongs to you, the artists. It’s time we stand together and demand transparency, accountability, and justice. Let’s reclaim our voice and our legacy,” said Madibe.
Forensic report
Ndlovu, through his company, Away From Here Trading and Projects, trading as One Rights Management (ORM), took Samro to court. He stated the CEO and the board members had plundered more than R60-million meant for its artists.
ORM was a service provider for Samro. It was contracted to collect music data played by various radio stations, TV channels, and streaming music platforms. This was in order for the collection society to claim royalties for its members’ work.
ORM stated in court papers that its contract was terminated because Ndlovu had raised issues. He had opened a corruption case against the CEO of Samro, Annabell Lebethe and the entire board. And this was following its failure to suspend board members he accused of stealing funds.
Ndlovu also said Samro had refused to release the forensic report fingering board members linked to the alleged heist.
He said Lebethe and the Samro chairperson, Nicholas Maweni, were protecting the board members he fingered.
Samro protecting members fingered in report
ORM provided the court with the forensic report’s list of more than 60 Samro members. It claims those members benefited from funds allegedly paid to them fraudulently.
Sunday World has established that Fundudzi Forensic Services investigated Samro’s affairs after it was appointed in June 2022.
In the final report we have seen, Fundudzi stated that based on its investigations, top record labels Sony Music Publishing, EMI Music, Sheer Publishing and Universal Music among dozens of other companies, publishers and individuals, were paid millions of rands.
However, the investigation stated the monies were illegally paid to the recipients by Samro.
Integrity of the investigation
Lebethe said: “Samro wishes to state unequivocally that the forensic report remains confidential. It forms part of an ongoing criminal investigation conducted by the SAPS and the Hawks. At this stage, Samro will not comment on the report’s contents. Nor will it engage in any public discourse that could compromise the integrity of the investigation.”
Now or Never also pointed out that it was not going to send questions to Samro. It said it had no desire to get an audience with the board and the management. They already demanded an urgent meeting with the board to discuss issues pertaining to allegations of corruption.
