Arthur Mafokate 'seeking legal counsel' over SABC 'payola scandal'

Music veteran Arthur Mafokate has told TshisaLIVE that he is not aware of being implicated in a SABC internal forensic report on bribery at the broadcaster.

A report by Sunday World on Sunday claimed that SABC group executive Hlaudi Motsoeneng had commissioned an investigation while still COO of the broadcaster. The report was to investigate claims that some of the broadcaster’s music compilers had been paid to play certain music — a practice commonly known as payola.

The paper claimed that Hlaudi had apparently received complaint from artists‚ including Arthur‚ that compilers were not playing their music‚ despite being paid by them to do so.

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“Some of the people who complained are record label owners who used to pay our staff money to play their music. I received the report last week and we are going through it‚” Hlaudi was quoted in the paper as saying.

The paper further claimed that the report would look at the legitimacy of a workshop apparently hosted by Arthur last year‚ where it was alleged that money was spent without SABC authorisation and “favours” were discussed.

But speaking to TshisaLIVE on Monday‚ Arthur claimed to know nothing about the probe and said that he was seeking legal advice in the matter.

“I am not aware of any investigation into me or me being implicated in any SABC forensic report about payola. I will not comment further on this and will be seeking legal counsel on the matter‚” Arthur told TshisaLIVE on Monday.

He would not comment on any other enquires on the matter.

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