SAMRO waiting for Arthur Mafokate verdict

Mafokate previously resigned from the board of trustees at Brand SA and the two music associations now want him to “recuse himself or be recused” from the SAMRO board, weekly newspaper City Press reported.

Mafokate, who also heads up the 999 Music record label, is charged with assaulting singer Busisiwe Twala, popularly known as Cici, last year.

“It is about time that the music and broader creative industry join in on the #MeToo campaign,” the associations said in a joint statement.

Speaking to the publication about Mafokate's relationship with South Africa's biggest collective management organisation (CMO), SAMRO managing director Andre Le Roux said: “The allegations against him go to the heart of the violations that South African women face on a daily basis.

"All people are, and must be, presumed innocent until proven guilty. As such, SAMRO wishes to allow the current court process between Mr Mafokate and Ms Twala to run its course. Once judgment is handed down, SAMRO is committed to taking any action as may be necessary on an urgent basis.”

SAMRO board chairperson Jerry Mnisi shared Le Roux's sentiments. He said the CMO could not remove Arthur until a verdict had been reached.

“We need to be very cautious about what we are doing so that we don't set a bad precedent," Mnisi told Music In Africa. "For us it is a matter of waiting for the case to finish. It was supposed to be finished by now. In fact it would have been finished if Cici didn’t miss her court date.”

Twala was issued with a warrant of arrest after she failed to appear in court on 15 June. She was supposed to appear on a counter-charge of assault laid by Mafokate who claimed that the ‘Ngidinge’ hitmaker hurled objects and chased him with a chair.

Mafokate is accused of dragging Twala with his car after she ended their romantic relationship in June last year. He pleaded not guilty in March and the case was postponed due to a communication breakdown between Twala and the prosecutor. Twala had claimed that the prosecutor, who has since recused himself, did not know enough about the case.

Twala, who is claiming R2.5m ($185 000) in damages, sustained a broken pelvis and various other injuries. The singer says she was told by doctors that she may never bear children.