By Celani Sikhakhane
KwaZulu-Natal has missed out on hosting the South African Music Awards again after last year’s controversy over a R28-million sponsorship deal.
The Recording Industry of South Africa snubbed KZN after President Cyril Ramaphosa stopped then-MEC Siboniso Duma’s sponsorship plan.
ActionSA’s Zwakele Mncwango had revealed documents showing R3-million was meant for VIP gifts and R6.5-million for an after-party.
The awards were then moved to Gauteng.
Despite promises to return to KZN this year, Saturday’s ceremony was held at Gallagher Estate in Johannesburg.
Mncwango questioned the broken promise on social media.
“I wonder why Samas were not returned to KZN this year because we were promised they were going to be hosted in Durban after they were abruptly withdrawn. By the way, I didn’t even know there were Samas this weekend,” he wrote.
This year’s awards, sponsored by the Motsepe Foundation, saw maskandi star Mthandeni “Igcokama Elisha” Manqele win Record of the Year.
Tyla took three awards including Best Pop Album and Ukhozi FM Female Artist of the Year.
Kabza De Small and Mthunzi won Best Amapiano Album and Sampra Album of the Year, while Lwah Ndlunkulu got the Best Afro-Pop Album for Imizwa.
Pictured Above: Maskandi artist Mthandeni Manqele won the Sama Song of the Year on Saturday.
Source: Instagram
