Sarah, the grandmother of US President Barack Obama, has accused the South African Traditional Music Awards (SATMA) of failing to honour a pledge it made to her foundation a year ago. While SATMA officials were once again busy preparing for this year’s awards, to be held in Richards Bay, founder Dumisani Goba has been accused of not fulfilling the promise made at last year’s event held at the University of Zululand.
When Goba announced Sarah as an important guest last year, he promised to donate R100000 to her Kenyan NGO, the Sarah Obama Foundation, reports The Sunday Independent of South Africa. She was also awarded the SATMA lifetime achievement award for her role in the development of rural communities in Kenya.
The foundation’s spokeswoman, Deborah Akello, this week confirmed that the 95-year old Obama never received the money and this has delayed the building of a children’s centre. “Although this has not affected gogo (Obama), her work with the foundation has been delayed because SATMA lied to her. We appeal for support to finish building the home,” Ms Akello said.
She added that the last communication she had with the La Lucia-based organisation was in February. “They told us to wait and we would hear from them. So, after not hearing from them, I sent an email enquiring whether they were going to honour the pledge and if not to just send us a letter stating that this pledge was not going to be honoured. But, since then, there has been no correspondence,” she said.
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However, the organisation’s chief executive, Zandile Ndzimande, denied any wrongdoing and said they were busy with the preparations for the awards. “After the awards we will write to the foundation and ask that someone else deal with the matter.
“We need to get necessary documents from them and will pay once a pledging agreement is signed and an invoice has been received for accountability and for the purposes of releasing the funds,” she said.
Ndzimande dismissed allegations that they used Obama’s name to get funds and publicity for their organisation. She said they brought Obama, including her family, to South Africa out of respect. Ndzimande reiterated that there were no delays from their side because there was no time frame given when the pledge was to be made. “It must be made clear that the SATMAS do not owe anything. This was a pledge and we are still committed.”
She also blamed a contact person from the foundation for engaging the media instead of sending them an invoice after a request was made some months ago. “We have rules in this country when money is to be paid to a foreign country, and now our contact person from the foundation is not helping,” Ndzimande said.
[crp]
