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Cape Town – In yet another mind-boggling appearance the SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng appeared on-stage at the 22nd South African Music Awards, trying to reach out to the Indian community and saying that the country one day will have “professional artists from the Indian community”.
“This tsunami is unstoppable,” said Motsoeneng of his plan for 90% local content on the SABC’s radio stations and TV channels.
The controversial Motsoeneng made his strange and brash overture on live television on Saturday night during the 22nd Samas held in Durban and broadcast on SABC1.
It came two weeks after he angered people with his belligerent tone during a call-in interview programme on the SABC’s LotusFM radio station where Indian listeners told him they’re upset and angry with his forced 90% local content policy that’s coupled with needletime for local, non-market segmented music.
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LotusFM listeners who’ve tuned in to the radio station for specifically Indian music, have for instance been subjected to a dramatic culling of Bollywood music from playlists and the addition of airplay given to songs ranging from Afrikaans to Mandoza. The same has been happening to the SABC’s other 17 radio stations.
On Saturday night DJ T-Bo Touch lavished praise on the SABC’s chief operating officer (COO) and introduced Hlaudi Motsoeneng as “the Mahatma Ghandi of broadcasting, the Oliver Thambo of entertainment” when Motsoeneng, flanked by the minister of communications, Faith Muthambi, took to the stage together.
“When I listen to radio stations, when I go to the shebeens, I can feel South Africa. Local is lekker,” said Motsoeneng, after which he launched into a specific appeal to South Africa’s Indian community.
“I need to appeal to our own sister and brothers. Indian community. This is the time to produce local artists in South Africa. This is the time to produce movies and dramas in South Africa. No American movies or dramas.”
“This is the time to say to Indian people we respect you. We are not going to change the religious programme. We are going to make sure that religious programme are there. But 90% we are moving on.”
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Using the Samas platform, Motsoeneng said: “This is what we want to see. Afrikaans music. Indian music. One day is one day we’ll produce artists and professional artists from the Indian community. This is what we’re all about when we talk about South Africa.”
“We are moving at the SABC. This tsumani is unstoppable,” said Motsoeneng.
