Samro executive pay hits

Samro CEO Nick Motsatse receives an annual package of R2.8million including a bonus, while the chief operations officer, Greg Zoghby, is on a R1.59-million annual package.

But the Creative Workers Union, which represents the majority of Samro's 2000 members, criticised the salaries as "excessive".

The figures came to light after the union interrogated the financial statements and came to a conclusion that the executives' salaries were inappropriate.

The union said about 80% of Samro members took home an average of R5000 annually. Samro confirmed the executives' salaries.

The union said its members were also up in arms over Samro's "unilateral" plans to register the organisation as a for-profit business.

The organisation has been operating as "a company limited by guarantee" under the old Companies Act - but all such companies are now required to elect to become either for-profit or non-profit.

Samro spokesman Kgomotso Mosenogi said the for-profit model suited the organisation more because it would be able to continue to distribute income to shareholders.

"The Samro board is continuing to consider all avenues available in terms of the new Companies Act to continue providing services to its members, as has been the case over the years," Mosenogi said.

The union said its members would oppose the move to re-register as a for-profit business because musicians who essentially "own" the organisation would end up losing it.

Musicians such as Mzwakhe Mbuli and Chicco Twala have denounced the move and accused Samro management of not having the best interests of members at heart.

Twala said: "It's quite obvious that they want to turn Samro into their business while their job is just to collect royalties and distribute to members.

"What is sad is that there are so many benefits including medical aid for staff employed at Samro, while the owners of the organisation, the musicians, don't have medical aid," he said.

Mbuli said: "If this organisation which collects hundreds of millions on behalf of artists had their interests at heart, it would have assisted people like Jabu Khanyile and Vuyo Mokoena before they died."

Khanyile, lead vocalist for Bayete, had diabetes and prostate cancer when he died in 2006. Mokoena, a gospel singer, died in 2008 after developing a brain tumour.

Source: Sunday Times