MBOMBELA – Local DJs and presenters of community radio stations are allegedly accused of sabotaging local artists by not playing their music unless they pay a bribe of R1 000.

This was been revealed during an exclusive interview with Pastic Sithole, the founder of the organisation called “The Truth Only ” which is responsible for promoting local talent.

“We are so upset about the bad treatment that our local artists receive at some community radio stations, even though the quality is up to standard, they don’t bother to play their music.

“We have learnt that in order for your music to be played, you are forced to bribe the presenters or DJs, which is wrong and unfair to those artists who can’t afford it. This needs to come to an end. They need to focus on their mandate which also includes promoting talent,” said Sithole.

He also indicated that such things were discouraging to young talent who struggled to get support from government. That was why some of them ended up indulging in substance abuse since there was a lack of job opportunities.

“These days you can make a living through your talent, but local artists are not even recognised. I was a writer and producer of Ekasi movies on etv since I relocated to Johannesburg in 1998.
“Some of the movies that I managed to produce included Hamba Uzobuya, but because I did not have enough equipment, I was forced to come back home in 2013 as it was difficult for me to produce the second part of the movie.

“I believe this organisation is going to play a very crucial role in promoting local talent. It can be singing, acting, just to name the few we need,” he said.

Sithole concluded by asking why the upcoming talented young people were not given a chance to take their talent to another level since the province was known to have produced stars such as Ray Phiri, Hugh Masikela, Rebecca Malope and Sipho Makhabane, just to name a few.

Speaking to the programme manager at BCR FM, Mawethu Ngwenya, he said,”At this stage, as far as I know, we did not come across such matters at the station. We have our own style of compiling music to avoid such corruption because it’s unacceptable. What I have realised is that local artists are not being promoted because of way they present their albums.

“They normally record the album, no cover sleeve, it’s only written with a black wonder marker and you find that even the quality is very poor because as radio stations we also compete, and you can’t use something that is not up to standard.

They must respect and take their job very seriously if they want to move to another level.”Meanwhile, the provincial coordinator for the Creative Workers Union of South Africa, Alpheus Nhlabathi said, “It is true that local artists are not promoted by our local radio stations and it has been this way for years.

“They are focusing on playing music from other countries like America. We have tried several times to engage with the managers of the stations. They promised to do something about it, but it’s not happening.

“On the issue of bribes, it’s something new but we are happy that it has come to our attention. We are going to investigate this matter as from today, because it’s not right for our local artists to pay a bribe if they want their music to be promoted, artists must speak out,” said Nhlabathi.

He indicated that another problem with local artists was the fact that they do not want to unite and speak in one voice.