Trompies Member Eugene Mthethwa Chains Himself Inside SAMRO Offices

Friday, February 19, 2021 at 12:42 PM by Mxolisi Mngadi

- Trompies member Eugene Mthethwa has chained himself inside the SAMRO offices in Johannesburg

- Eugene Mthethwa is demanding more money from SAMRO as his pension fund only amounted to R300 000

- Eugene Mthethwa, who is with singer Ringo, has shared that he has been a SAMRO member for 30 years

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Trompies star Eugene Mthethwa has chained himself to a pole inside the Southern African Music Rights Organisations (SAMRO) offices in Johannesburg.

Eugene has shared that he has been a member of SAMRO for 30 years but his pension fund amounted to less than R300 000. The musician is demanding answers from the organisation.

In videos doing the rounds on social media, Eugene can bee seen sitting at a table with singer and EFF member Ringo Madlingozi. They are both demanding their grievances be heard. Eugene also shared the videos and pics oh himself chained to the pole on his Instagram account. Eugene said:

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"We are here. They will see how they remove me. They have to answer the questions I've raised. The white CEO Mark Rosin, somebody who was exploiting artists, is the same person they've brought to come and get his pension funds from SAMRO. When our own members don't have pension funds, don't have anything."

According to a statement TshisaLIVE is in possession of, SAMRO CEO Mark Rosin confirmed that Eugene had raised a complaint regarding the calculation of his royalties.

A tweep has shared a new video of Eugene and Ringo continuing with their protest inside the SAMRO building this Friday. @YolzYako wrote:

"Eugene Mthethwa and @ndiyagodola are STILL at SAMRO. We’re going on day two for a simple simple matter! @the_dti do something!"

Mzansi social media users have shared mixed reactions to Eugene and Ringo's protest. Check out some of their comments below:

@MohloanaB wrote:

"One is an MP and another is a manager in the presidency. Why are the not using their proximity to power to solve issues without protest?"

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@GI_Irvin said:

"This is so sad honestly, they are making it look like it’s a bearable but it’s unacceptable. It says a lot about @NathiMthethwaSA department when it comes to protecting people in the arts industry. This government so we must all chain ourselves to get service and answers?"

@Truthfulmatter1 commented:

"Then we wonder why these artists die broke because of such corruption at SAMRO. What hat happened to their money? These new artists should be supported them cause tomorrow this will be them. There will be no Gucci and LV then."

@Sojama_ said:

"@NathiMthethwaSA do something about this, these are South African artists and they must be protected by all means and that's the future of their children that SAMRO is destroying."

@TshidisoFeela wrote:

"All artists should stop posting on Instagram and Twitter and go support this."

@Sikelela_D added:

"Artists should be joining this action."

Trompies Member Eugene Mthethwa Chains Himself Inside SAMRO Offices — Trompies member Eugene Mthethwa has chained himself inside SAMRO offices. Image: @eugene_mthethwa
Source: Instagram

In other entertainment news, Briefly.co.za reported that Makhadzi reportedly lost out on a gig that would have seen her perform on TV. The musician was billed to perform in popular Mzansi soapie Rhythm City but due to ongoing disputes with her record label, she ended up not performing.