
SAMRO to reconvene meeting after disputed July decisions
The Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) will hold an Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) on 29 August 2025 to address governance concerns following a disputed meeting last month.
- The upcoming meeting will serve two purposes: to conclude the postponed EGM business and to revisit the outcome of the July meeting. In the photo: SAMRO CEO Annabell Lebethe.
At the EGM on 10 July, three non-executive board members were removed. However, SAMRO has since stated that the decision was taken in a way that did not follow proper procedure. The board says the resolution is open to challenge and should be corrected through a member-led process.
“The correct approach is to ask members to rescind and set aside the 10 July 2025 removal resolution and, if members so choose, to vote afresh on properly tabled removal resolutions,” the CMO said adding that this would ensure due process while giving members the opportunity to decide on the issue fairly.
The upcoming meetings will serve two purposes: to conclude the postponed EGM business and to revisit the outcome of the July meeting. SAMRO says this process is necessary to avoid disputes and restore stability.
The organisation also addressed speculation linked to its suspended Chief Operating Officer (COO), who made allegations during the July meeting. SAMRO stressed that the remarks were not its official position and that the COO has since been placed on precautionary suspension. “They are not SAMRO’s statements or consistent with any findings to date,” the board said, adding that the allegations remain untested and will be handled through formal processes.
SAMRO further stated that the suspended COO is not a whistle-blower in relation to an undocumented claims matter. The board said it had commissioned a forensic investigation into the issue, which has been shared with law enforcement. The organisation confirmed that the report does not make findings against individuals named by the COO and that steps are being taken to protect the actual whistle-blowers involved.
“Members and stakeholders are urged to respect the ongoing processes so that matters can be brought to finality,” SAMRO said. It also rejected the COO’s formal grievances, describing them as vague and unsubstantiated, but pledged to fully address the issues once internal and external processes are completed.
SAMRO says its focus now is on providing clarity through a lawful process and securing a clear mandate from members. The organisation has urged members to register and participate in the meetings scheduled for 29 August.
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