The Southern African Music Rights Organisation (Samro) is currently in the spotlight due to allegations of fraud, corruption, and mismanagement that have emerged from a forensic report conducted in 2023.
Recent media coverage has highlighted the situation surrounding a suspended Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mpho Mofikoe, who has brought to light instances of fraud, alongside ongoing conflicts regarding the format of general meetings and the enactment of new copyright legislation, which has fostered a tense environment within the organisation.
On Wednesday, 10 September, various media outlets in South Africa reported on a protest by musicians that resulted in the disruption of Samro’s press conference during the early hours of the day.
Notable musicians, including the legendary Mercy Pakela and William Mthethwa, are reported to have participated in the disruption of the Samro press conference held on Wednesday morning, as they demanded their rights.
Samro had convened a press conference on Wednesday morning to discuss, among other matters, the internal conflicts within the organisation and the suspension of their COO, Mpho Mofikoe, who was suspended last month for allegedly revealing instances of fraud.
In August, the Sunday World published an article regarding the suspended Samro COO, who had exposed fraudulent activities amounting to millions of rands. The Sunday World reported that Mofikoe had uncovered a scandalous R30 million allegedly spent on board members, in addition to R60 million in purported fraudulent claims.
In the same month, Samro addressed reports concerning the precautionary suspension of its COO, indicating that they have acknowledged the public commentary and media attention regarding the precautionary suspension of Ms. Mpho Mofikoe, the COO. Samro affirmed that the COO has been placed on precautionary suspension, effective from 4 August 2025.
“Contrary to suggestions in the public domain, the COO’s precautionary suspension was not retaliatory, as has been suggested. Instead, it was in response to preliminary findings pointing to potential internal transgressions. The precautionary suspension is standard practice to allow an impartial process to proceed to its fair conclusion without interference. SAMRO has an obligation to protect the interests of both the employee and the organisation in this regard,” Samro said in a press statement.
On Wednesday, 10 September, during a press call organised by Samro, the event was disrupted and rapidly descended into chaos when musicians, including Sithembile Zungu from the renowned 80s group Dalom Kids, whom we fondly remember listening to, stormed into the auditorium.
According to a report by Sowetan Live, the musicians expressed their frustrations regarding unpaid royalties, insisting that the board address the outstanding payments owed to them.
Pakela, who has consistently advocated for transparency and accountability within the music industry, stated that they merely seek what is rightfully theirs.
“What they (Samro) are doing is affecting our lives. There’s a lot of corruption at Samro, and when people point out that the board has not been honest, they are then sidelined or kicked out,” said Pakela. “It’s not about us anymore, but the truth is, Samro belongs to us.”
Mthethwa, who stated that he has been a member of Samro for 50 years, mentioned that he has 564 songs registered. “Samro owes me R2 million. I have a case with Samro that has been ongoing for 30 years. Some well-known radio DJs employed by the SABC are receiving my royalties,” he remarked, according to the Sowetan Live
“The press conference was unexpectedly cancelled,” the Sowetan Live reported.
The concerns expressed by the musicians have emerged following a surge in allegations pertaining to governance shortcomings and financial mismanagement. This situation has been particularly underscored by a forensic investigation initiated in 2023 by Fundudzi Forensic Services, which uncovered around R3.4 million in dubious royalty claims submitted by specific members. This has resulted in ongoing criminal inquiries and a reorganization of the board.