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Paid: Cornerstone members - Avha "AJ" Tshisevhe, Rendani Nefale and Vhahangwele "Ngerezah" Netshifhefhe. File photo.

After six months still no payment for Tshima winners

 

The Tshivenda Music Awards (Tshima) is embroiled in a debilitating controversy, after failing to pay at least 12 artists who won the R10 000 cash prizes each.

All these concerned artists were given awards during the second edition of the Tshivenda Music Awards (Tshima), shortly before Christmas last year.

The Limpopo Mirror's offices were inundated with calls from angry artists who claimed that the organisers of the Tshimas failed to make payments on January 2014 as this was what they were initially promised. “We need our money. We were told that we would get our money in January, but that didn't happen,” said the artists, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation.

The artists said that they phoned the project director, Mr Augustine Nethononda, about the payment immediately after payments were not done in January. Nethononda allegedly informed them that he had released all the monies to Ms Lutendo Nekhwevha to pay the artists.

According to the disgruntled artists, Ms Nekhwevha even contacted all of them telephonically, promising that all winners would get paid on 31 May. “She even apologised to me,” said an artist. “I called [another winner], who also told me the same story, that Lutendo [Nekhwevha] apologised and promised to pay [that artist] on 31 May.”

When no payments were made by that date, the artists became more frustrated. “When we inquire from her, she gets rude towards us and tells us to go wherever we want,” said one artist. “She said promoters didn't give them (the Tshima organisers) even a cent.”

The newspaper contacted Nekhwevha on Tuesday. “I won't be commenting anything – not even now,” said Nekhwevha. “I am not alone in this Tshima business. I only talk to artists. If artists have already chosen to speak with you, let them continue doing so.”

When contacted for comment, the project director, Mr Augustine Nethononda, fumed: “Arali vhone muhumbulo muhulwane u wa u ?wala tshi?ori a vha ?wale (If your major motive is to write the story, then write). I am not commenting on this issue. Shap (Okay). Write your stuff.”

The spokesperson for the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Mr Kaizer Kganyago, said he was in no position to comment on the matter. “I don't know what you want us to comment,” he said. “We contracted and paid the company (that hosts Tshimas), who must pay the artists. The artists must face those people.”

The list of the winners is: Dzomo la Venda (Tshiven?a Praise Song Artist of the Year), (Tshivenda Female Artist of the Year), Bhamba (Best Newcomer of the Year), Takalani Mudau (Best Tshivenda Male Artist of the Year), Cornerstone (Best Tshivenda Contemporary/Afrosoul Group of the Year), 2 Minutes vs Dupa (Best Tshivenda Dance Song of the Year), Marcus Mundalamo (Best Tshivenda Traditional Artist), Thifhelimbilu & Gaz’lam Rumba Boyz (Best Tshingondo Group of the Year), Lufuno Dagada (Best Tshivenda Gospel Artist of the Year), Burning Doctor (Best Tshivenda Reggae Artist) and C-Jay (Best Tshivenda Hip-hop Artist of the Year).

Meanwhile, some of the concerned artists revealed that they had learned that two groups or artists were paid last week on Friday. “They paid Cornerstone and Burning Doctor,” said other artists. “Does it mean that the Tshima organisers fear Burning Doctor and Cornerstone? What about the rest of us?”

On Tuesday, Cornerstone's Vhahangwele Netshifhefhe and Burning Doctor, respectively, confirmed payment.

Paid: Burning Doctor. File photo.
Not paid: Sir McKleker. photo.
Not paid: Vanempha. File photo.
 

Date:13 June 2014

By: Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.

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