The South African Music Awards (SAMAs) have announced a new location and partnership.

 
Following public outcry and President Cyril Ramaphosa’s intervention, the KZN Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs abruptly dropped its three-year relationship as the major sponsor of the SAMAs last month.

The SunBet Arena in Time Square, Menlyn Maine in Pretoria is the new location for the SAMAs, which will still take place on November 18.

After reaching an agreement with the music festival Africa Fest, the event’s organizers, the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA), verified that everything would go as scheduled.It took some nifty footwork and agility to ensure that SAMA29 is saved and staged on the set date.

We are humbled by the receptive and sympathetic nature of our partners at Africa Fest who showed that the industry can be stronger when we are together.

This is a display of the Sesotho adage kopano ke matla [unity is strength]. They have generously accommodated our programme and will be assisting in ensuring that the awards run as smoothly as possible with the highest production values befitting the calibre of our musicians. I have no doubt that it will be a memorable one.

Nhlanhla Sibisi, the CEO of RiSA