The mammoth task of deciding who is the real creator of international mega hit Jerusalema is in the hands of the court.
However, that process is allegedly stalling because producer Master KG and his former record label Open Mic have not made themselves available for court to set a trial date.
Sunday World has also learnt that talks between Master KG, Open Mic and two artists who have accused him of stealing the song broke down in the negotiation stages.
Master KG, born Kgaogelo Moagi, was accused of stealing the jam. The song went on to become an international hit and garner over a billion views and streams worldwide.
Copyright infringement lawsuit in 2022
The global hitmaker was hit with a lawsuit for copyright infringement for the gigantic tune in 2022.
Forming part of the lawsuit are artists and producers Charmza The DJ (Presley Ledwaba) and Biblos (Ntimela Chauke). The two claim to be the original creators of the monster track, and instituted legal action.
After two years of back-and-forth and negotiations, it is understood that the matter has hit a snag. this is because Master KG and Open Mic have been playing delay tactics. These include them avoiding to set a date for trial through their lawyers.
In an email exchange which Sunday World has seen, lawyers for Biblos and DJ Charmza express frustration over this. This after a desired trial date of May 27 to May 31 was ignored by the DJ and Open Mic.
“We have also followed-up with the first and second defendant’s legal representatives. And we had given them until close of business on Friday, 19 April 2024. [For them] to confirm their availability for that period.
Master KG, fellow defendants accused of delay tactics
“The first and second defendant’s legal representatives have indicted that they are awaiting their client’s instructions. [They] requested that we give them time until 30 April 2024,” the email read.
However, Master KG and Open Mic had not done so by the due date.
According to a source close to the case, the matter has dragged for so long because the trial date could not be confirmed.
“They are being very good with the delay strategy. …That is what they are doing, they have a hundred delay tactics. Eventually the case will go to court though. They can’t settle. Because if they admit to it, it is a lot of millions, around the tune of 10 million dollars. So you see that there is a lot at stake for them,” the source said.
In 2022, Charmza the DJ and Biblos released a joint statement. They revealed that they have instituted legal proceedings against Master KG, Open Mic Productions. Also against music distributor Africori. This was for alleged copyright infringement in respect of the commercialisation and master recording of Jerusalema.
Producer had no rights to the hit song
“Court papers filed at the High Court in Pretoria on 08 June 2022 show that the claims are based on allegations that neither Master KG, nor his record label at the time, Open Mic, controlled the rights in the Jerusalema song or the master recording when they commercially released it,” the statement read.
“The song was the result of a collaboration between music producer Charmza the DJ, who composed the song, and Nomcebo Zikode. [Zikode] wrote the lyrics for the song and performed it for the master recording. This was also produced in studio by Charmza the DJ.”
A list of questions were sent to Master KG and Open Mic Productions. Open Mic Productions owner Lionel Jamela responded and said: “Sorry. No comment.”
Master KG had not responded by the time of publishing.
