THOHOYANDOU - Dark clouds are hanging over what was termed to be a revue, a night to remember and history in making - the Vhembe music awards, as two local acclaimed reggae artists declined to receive their awards in front of the fans over the weekend, indicating that there is no transparency within the Vhembe district music forum committee.

Colbert Mukwevho, of Harley and The Rasta Family, and Khakhathi Tshisikule, of Khakhathi and Friends, both refused to receive a certificate and a trophy at the Vhembe Music awards held at Maunavhathu Hall.

"During our meeting held at the Phalaphala FM buildings at Thohoyandou, the forum's chairperson, Bishop Roxley Fhatuwani Masevhe, told us the provincial Department of Sport, Culture and Arts has a budget of R380 000 for artists in the province. He added that, for us to benefit from that money, it meant wehad to initiate a forum, which we agreed to establish. We paid R120 for membership. We were also told that legends in all categories would each receive about R5 000, families of those who have passed away R10 000, while young and upcoming artists would get R2 000, but to our surprise, at our first music awards held at the Thohoyandou town hall, there were no cash prizes and just unsigned certificates, which we refused to take," said Khakhathi.

He said that letters were sent to all artists informing them that the awards would be re-staged at Maunavhathu on December 11. "Our efforts to hold talks with the forum chairperson in order receive clarification on certain issues, including cash prizes, proved fruitless as Masevhe always avoided us. Think about a committee, of which both the secretary and the treasurer are the wives of the chairperson; do you think there can be transparency?” he asked.

“We were shocked to learn through the radio that we would be performing while no arrangements were made by the forum with the artists. Musicians don't perform free of charge unless arrangement are made,” he said. The reggae artist further claims that, on arrival at Maunavhathu, the organisers were charging R150 for entrance for his partner. “They were expecting me to dance to their tune when they put me in the first position in reggae. I am not in a competition with anybody. When I ascended the stage to receive the awards, I nearly collapsed when I learned that they were still going to give me a piece of paper (certificate) and a small trophy. I expected to get money as the Bishop had promised," he said.

When responding to the allegations made by Roxley Masevhe that Khakhathi and Colbert came with guns to kill him, he said that “the guns that I saw that were with the cops and soldiers and I saw more than fifty guns. The allegations that I came with four BMWs and guns are not correct.”