• Samic was paid to host a conference in 2021 but never handed in a report showing how the money was used.

• The group has now been blacklisted and deregistered, with insiders claiming some of the money was stolen.

The government has cut ties with the South African Music Industry Council (Samic) for failing to explain how it spent more than R1-million.

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture said Samic was paid the money in 2021 to host a conference, but never handed in a report on what the money was used for.

In a letter dated 30 April, the department told Parliament that Samic was now on its list of defaulters.

“Samic has failed to submit the required report despite numerous reminders,” the letter said.

A source said the conference took place at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg. But after the event, rumours began that some members had stolen part of the money.

Sunday World got hold of the agreement between the department and Samic. It showed Samic was supposed to get the money in two parts: R541,800 first, and the rest, R60,200, only after sending proof of how the money was spent.

That final report was never sent.

It’s not the first time Samic has been in trouble over money. The Department of Trade and Industry also cut ties with the group after it failed to explain what it did with R500,000.

The group has now been deregistered for not following the rules.

Former president Eugene Mthethwa said he had nothing to do with the mess.

“I can confirm that the monies were paid to Samic, but I was already out of the organisation,” he said. “I reported this to the former DTI minister, but nothing was done.”

He blamed Romeo Qetsemani, calling him the “engine behind Samic.”

Current president Vusi Leeuw would not comment and told reporters to speak to Qetsemani instead.

Now the department is under pressure to explain how the money slipped through the cracks.

Pictured above: Gayton McKenzie.

Image source: @gaytonmck