SABC compilers face the axe over payola allegations

The investigations were commissioned by former SABC group executive for corporate affairs Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the employees would face disciplinary action for various charges including payola – an illegal practice where DJs or compilers accept money in exchange for airplay.

The report says the music compilers were bribed by musicians to have their songs played on air, local media reported citing insiders. City Press said 15 musicians had confessed paying music compilers to playlist their music. It also emerged that Metro FM music compiler DJ Nutty is among the compilers who are facing a disciplinary hearing.

“The hearing was not about payola in particular but a workshop that took place and our own people [the music compilers] went to attend,” the weekly paper quoted Kganyago as saying. “They went to a workshop organised by 999 boss Arthur Mafokate and they were allegedly given money, but we don’t know what the money was paid for.”

The SABC report has not been released to the public and music industry professionals are already demanding its release.

“We need to get our hands on that report because it’s in the public interest. They need to release it,” Music Association of South Africa president Tebogo Sithathu told City Press.

Meanwhile, Mafokate could not be reached for comment.

Last year, Motsoeneng, who was the then chief operations officer of the public broadcaster, confirmed that the 999 Music boss was implicated in the report. Motsoeneng said musicians had complained that compilers were forcing them to pay R20 000 ($1 500) in order to have their songs playlisted on SABC platforms.

In August this year, the Artist Movement submitted their grievances about payola at the SABC. They called for corrupt compilers to be fired. In a paradoxical response to the Artist Movement, the broadcaster said: “The SABC believes that the music compilers are executing their duties accordingly.”