KZN entertainment Award winners take a swipe on showrunners over unpaid prize money
In the wake of the colourful awards ceremony showrunners of the annual KZN, Entertainment Awards are in deep trouble over unpaid prize money. Award winners are fuming after the organizers failed to pay them their prize money. It’s now four months after the awards and the winners are yet to get their prize money from the organizers of the awards.
The glitzy event was held at the Durban ICC in December. However, the winners were promised thousands of rand for being voted the province’s best entertainers. Despite being voted award winners claim that they are yet to receive their prize money.
The awards were hosted by media personalities Somizi Mhlongo and Pearl Thusi. Big winners from the awards include Black Coffee, DJ Tira and Sjava, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Mbongeni Ngema.
Rumour has it that winners were promised to walk away with huge amounts of money. The prize money from the awards ranged from R100 000 to half a million.
Speaking to the media a close source tho the showrunners and winners indicated that there was a dispute in regards to prize money.
“People are still in the dark as to what happened to the money they were supposed to bag when they were announced as winners. A lot of money was pumped into that event, media people were flown from different provinces to cover the event and were booked in upmarket hotels. It might mean the organisers ‘chowed’ the money,” said a source.
KZN entertainment Award winners take a swipe on showrunners over unpaid prize money
However, the awards were organized by musician Zandi Khumalo’s husband and controversial former Mabala Noise publicist Mhlo Gumede. Sources claim that Gumede bagged thousands of rand in sponsorship but failed to honour his promise.
“It was a big event, which saw Somizi being the host of the day. The journalist who won the Best Entertainment Journalist of the Year [award] has not been paid the R100 000 he was promised. He’s in the dark as to what is happening about the money,” another source said.
Nomcebo Zikode walked away with the Best Female Artist award. Dawn Thandeka King scoped the Best Female Actress award and SK Khoza took the Best Male Actor award. The cash payments raised eyebrows shortly after the figures were announced. Gumede refused to account for what has led to the payment delays.
“It is none of your business whether people have been paid or not. I am in contact with the artists and they are aware of the situation,” Gumede said.
None of the artists wanted to speak on the record.