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 Indian community".
"This is tsunami is unstoppable," said Hlaudi 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 that simultaneously was an insult, on live television on
Saturday night during the 22nd SAMAs held in Durban and broadcast on
the SABC's SABC1 TV channel.
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.
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 the 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 Hlaudi Motsoeneng, flanked by the minister of communications,
Faith Muthambi, took to the stage together, looking like a matric farewell
couple.
"When I listen to radio stations, when I go
to the shebeens, I can feel South Africa. Local is lekker," said Hlaudi Motsoeneng,
after which he launched into a bizarre 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."
Using the SAMAs platform, Hlaudi 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 Indian community. This is
what we're all about when we talk about South Africa."
"We are moving at the SABC. This is tsumani
is unstoppable," said Hlaudi Motsoeneng.
