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The Economic Development and Tourism sector of Kwa Zulu Natal has decided to pull the plug on hosting the annual South African Music Awards (SAMA).
This announcement was made at a briefing on Wednesday, merely 24 days before the event was meant to take place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre on 17 and 18 November.
Prior to the cancellation of the awards, the eThekwwini executive mayor Mxolisi Kaunda said the City anticipates a direct expenditure of R25 816 236 with the injection to the City’s Gross Domestic Product estimated to be R63 million.
However, the MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, Siboniso Duma said the decision to not host the awards this year was taken after extensive consultation with the executive council and other stakeholders.
It is believed that opposition parties had been up in arms over the money the provincial government planned to spend on the event.
According to a statement by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA), they were shocked to learn that the awards had been canceled.
"We have a three-year contract with the Department of Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs and will be consulting with them to find out what led to this decision and carve a way forward. As such we will advise in due course what the next step for SAMA will be," the statement reads.
RiSA also mentioned that the awards ceremony was going to create over 150 job opportunities and over 100 musicians would have performed.
The awards would have also boosted the province's hospitality sector as they were in the process of confirming 350 rooms per night at various hotels between 12 and 20 November.
