Drama at the South African Music Rights Organisation (Samro) has reached a boiling point, and this time it is the boss herself under fire.
CEO Annabelle Lebethe is facing loud calls from furious members who want her kicked out of office after a perjury case was opened against her. The case was opened by Owen Ndlovu in June.
With COO Mpho Mofikoe already sitting at home on suspension over misconduct allegations, members are now saying, “what’s good for Mpho must be good for Annabelle”.
Lying under oath
A Samro member, Nomsa Mazwai, did not mince her words.
“We cannot have a CEO who lies under oath. She must go. If they suspended Mofikoe, they must suspend Lebethe too. Otherwise Samro’s so-called integrity is a joke.”
The scandal erupted when music executive Ndlovu accused Lebethe of lying in court papers.
“In her affidavit she claimed that I stormed in the Samro offices with the firearm. She said that I went upstairs on the third floor looking for her. But she wasn’t even at work on that day, so she could not have seen me.
“But in her affidavit she painted me as some gun-toting thug. When she failed to prove her lies, the court threw out her protection order. That’s why I opened a perjury case. Lying under oath is a crime,” fumed Ndlovu.
Ndlovu said that Lebethe was trying to destroy his reputation.
Samro stands behind CEO
“She is an abuser of the justice system. Innocent people rot in jail because of people like her. She must face the consequences,” said Ndlovu.
Samro, however, is standing firmly behind its CEO, dismissing the case as part of a smear campaign.
“Samro is aware that a case of perjury has been formally opened against CEO Annabelle Lebethe. This matter is currently under investigation. And Lebethe flatly denies the claims and will defend herself in the appropriate forums. We further believe this forms part of an ongoing campaign to discredit both Ms Lebethe and Samro.
“Mofikoe was placed on precautionary suspension to allow for an internal investigation into allegations of misconduct. This procedural step does not imply wrongdoing. And it is not retaliatory,” said Samro.
Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed that a perjury case was opened at Hillbrow Police Station. But the matter hit a dead end after prosecutors decided not to proceed.
“I can confirm that a case of perjury was opened at Hillbrow Police Station and the matter was investigated. A warning statement was obtained from the suspect, and the docket was taken to court for a decision. The court decided to enter a nolle prosequi, dismissing charges against the suspect,” said Masondo.
