The SABC has slapped Owen Ndlovu, owner of Michael Owen Productions,with a cease and desist letter, instructing him to refrain from making public statements about the institution or its court case.
Ndlovu successfully interdicted the SABC from releasing the song of the year competition results at the Joburg High Court last month, arguing that the public broadcaster had violated copyrights to his concept.
The ruling saw Ukhozi FM, the country’s biggest radio station, unable to name the winner of the song of the year competition, leaving listeners confused.
However, with the final judgment expected to be issued next month, drama has been intensifying between the SABC and Ndlovu.
Both parties blamed each other for the mess while the Zulu indunas in KwaZulu-Natal were asking for answers about what they saw as sabotage of their artist Into Ncane, whom they believe had won the competition.
In one of the videos posted on Twitter, Ndlovu blamed SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe, stating that he was at the centre of the saga. He accused Mxakwe of refusing to meet him to resolve the issues before he went to court.
The SABC’s lawyers, Ningiza Horner Attorneys, issued Ndlovu with a cease and desist letter, urging him to stop making public statements on the matter, saying the court case was still sub judice .
But Ndlovu said he would not heed the public broadcaster’s call, saying it was meant to make him suffer in silence.
“I did not defame them, I merely used the platform available to me,” he said. SABC spokeswoman Mmoni Seapolelo confirmed the matter, stating that the letter was sent after Ndlovu launched an attack on the SABC.
By Aubrey Mothombeni
SABC in bid to muzzle event organiser
