Zuko Komisa

- Grammy-winning singer Nomcebo Zikode lost her appeal against Open Mic Productions on 24th July.
- The court upheld a ruling forcing her to complete two albums and pay R1.5 million in legal fees.
- Zikode vows to fight on, while Open Mic Productions welcomed the decision.
Grammy Award-winning South African singer Nomcebo Zikode has faced a significant setback in her protracted legal dispute with Open Mic Productions, after the Pretoria High Court rejected her application for leave to appeal.
The artist, celebrated for her vocals on the global phenomenon Jerusalema, has consistently alleged that she has not received her due royalties for the track.
Her appeal aimed to overturn a May ruling that mandated her to complete two further albums under her contract before any termination, and crucially, ordered her to pay R1.5 million in legal costs to the record label.
In his judgment, Judge Graham Moshoana unequivocally stated that Ms. Zikode’s appeal possessed “no reasonable prospects of success” and further instructed her to cover additional legal expenses incurred by Open Mic Production.
Reacting to the court’s decision, a visibly disheartened Ms. Zikode described the judgment as “deeply troubling.” Despite the repeated blows, she remains steadfast in her resolve, pledging to persist in her fight for what she terms “fairness” within the music industry. Her legal team is understood to be exploring all available avenues, including the possibility of further appeals.
Open Mic Productions has expressed its satisfaction with the ruling. Lionel Jamela, the managing director of the label, reiterated the company’s stance, asserting that they had “invested heavily” in Ms. Zikode’s career.
He also maintained the label’s position that the singer was seeking undue ownership of the “Jerusalema” hit.
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