DBS refuse to pay music royalties
Spira Tlhankane | Tuesday January 31, 2017 13:27
Addressing the media recently, COSBOTS chairperson Solomon B. Monyame said DBS are the biggest users of local music content ye they cannot comply with rules. “All efforts to engage them to pay have not been fruitful,” he said. Monyame said even though they have to deal with this displeasure, they have to exercise extra caution because it is a sensitive issue.
Monyame added that they are continuing to engage the government on the issue but emphasised that they cannot bite the hand that feeds them.
“They are our superiors, DBS’s last payment was partial and we have met and outlined challenges,” he said. Monyame said they are running out of time because their members are not happy about the issue.
He however failed to reveal how much DBS owes them. “Revealing the amount of debt would be highly unprofessional and unethical,” he said. Besides DBS, COSBOTS is currently having a hard time with Duma FM and the matter is currently at the courts of law. “We have sort relief from the courts,” he said. He also announced their response to a document called ‘legal opinion’ authored by legal services officer Pearl Mahlala in August 2016. He said the board engaged an independent attorney and a corporate governance consultant to investigate each issue raised.
Addressing one of the hot issue raised by the legal opinion, Monyame defended the board’s decision to purchase a motor vehicle for the CEO. “The consultants determined that this transaction was authorised through resolution of the board and finds that the vehicle, registered in the name of the society forms part of the society’s assets and therefore finds no evidence of wrongdoing,” he said.
He also said they will hold elections soon to replace members and allow for rotation. Monyame admitted that three of the board members’ term has expired therefore they would hand over to others soon.