WeeklySA_AdminCONFESSION: Popular former broadcaster Chomane Chomane comes out clean
By Ali Mphaki
Musician William “Mr Everything” Mthethwa’s dogged struggle over his royalties spanning over 30 years may finally yield dividends and be a game changer in the industry following a groundbreaking mediation effort at the South African Music Rights Organization, SAMRO, offices on Friday.
Attended by Mthethwa, former Lesedi FM broadcaster Chomane Chomane, observer Mzwakhe Mbuli, Tronix Madibe, and the head honchos at SAMRO, the meeting resolved that all royalties due to the Welkom-based musician that were lost due to a fraudulent scheme involving broadcasters and record companies paid in full.
The Hawks are also said to be investigating the multi-million rand scam which has robbed struggling musicians of their hard-earned royalties for years.
The resolution to pay Mthethwa may just open a can of worms at SAMRO, with scores of other musicians likely to approach the organization to see if they suffered same fate as Mthethwa and if they are also to receive their “stolen” royalties.
Industry sources say Mthethwa’s fate is just the tip of the iceberg, as the fraudulent payola scheme knew no boundaries with popular bands like Stimela, among others, also victims.
According to information received there was a complex payola agreement system secretly entered into between a record company (Dephon, owned by Phil Hollis and very prominent radio DJs whose names are known to Weekly SA Mirror), which was at the forefront of the fraud.
Using Mthethwa’s songs (it could have been any musician’s work), the radio DJs are said to have placed his music on high rotation during their slots in exchange of a royalty percentage from the musician’s royalties, some as high as 33 percent.
To add insult to injury, this was done fraudulently by adding the radio DJs or their associated family members as composers on the artists’ songs.
Speaking exclusively to Weekly SA Mirror, an elated Mthethwa said he was relieved that his fight was nearing its end and that SAMRO had committed to paying him all what is due to him.
“I am happy that I will not die a pauper. All those who have been fraudulently siphoning my money should pay back.
“This is not just a victory for me, but for all those musicians who have been suffering the same fate as I.
“I am happy sanity has prevailed and I will not, like most musicians, die a pauper,” said the man known as Mr Everything for his versatility.
Mthethwa has recorded more than 460 songs, in a career that started in the 70s with the recording of one of his hit songs at the time Ema O Tsamaye etc. His repertoire covers genres like disco, R&B, Struggle Songs, and gospel, work he has produced in over 47 albums.
‘Can you imagine had I died before resolving this fight. All my work would have continued to benefit others while my children suffer.
‘I would have been a cow working for a horse,” he said, using a saying in Sesotho.
Asked for his comment, People’s Poet Mzwakhe Mbuli said:” This vindicates us from some of the allegations we have been raising with SAMRO and against their maladministration and fraud that has been happening for many years.
“At least we can now welcome the owning of SAMRO to the unfortunate experience that many artists may have been subjected to and some having died before this breakthrough,’ he said.
Congratulating Mthethwa for his resilience, Mbuli said it was encouraging that he stood up to fight for justice whilst still alive to realize his hard-earned royalties.
When Weekly SA Mirror approached Chomane for comment, the broadcaster turned undertaker said he was happy with the outcome of the meeting and that he had made a commitment to desist henceforth from claiming any royalties from Mthethwa’s works.
Nick Maweni chairperson of SAMRO was not immediately available.
Published on the 51th Edition. Get E-Copy
