A GRANDMOTHER, still hurting after the death of her grandson who took the drug Mercedes early this year, has warned popular Durban kwaito artist Babes Wodumo to stop “praising” the drug.
Mercedes, the latest song by Babes Wodumo, whose real name is Bongenkile Smelane, has been banned from Ukhozi FM airwaves.
But her management has denied that the song praises the drug Mercedes and says it is about a car.
Sanele Dlokolo, spokesman for West Inc, the artist’s recording company, said Ukhozi had told the company that the song would not be aired and that the decision “was not open for negotiations”.
“We will not contest the decision,” said Dlokolo.
Social Development MEC Weziwe Thusi said the province could not afford to have artists promoting drugs “where our children are heavily involved in substance abuse”.
“Just this year two children lost their lives to drugs following a house party in KwaMashu. We welcome this bold and progressive step by SABC management,” said Thusi.
Zodwa Mngadi, whose 19-year-old grandson Siyabonga Mngadi died earlier this year after taking Mercedes, supported the banning of the song and accused Babes Wodumo of using her talent “irresponsibly”.
She was concerned that if harsher action was not taken to stop drugs her 12-year-old granddaughter, Siyabonga’s younger sister, might also become a victim.
Mngadi’s house in K-section is a short distance from the KwaMashu Station shopping centre. The centre is populated by hundreds of homeless young people who commit crime to feed their drug habit.
Mngadi said Babes Wodumo should fight against drugs instead of “luring children to death”.
“How can an artist promote drugs when the drugs are killing our children?” she said.
Mngadi last saw Siyabonga alive at 7.30pm on March 25 when he left the house to join his friends to celebrate school holidays.
“I received a call at about 3am telling me had died in a house where they were gathered. I later learnt that that they had been taking drugs,” she said.
Mngadi said she was hurt to see children still taking drugs instead of learning from the tragedy.
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said the SABC did not “ban” any music.
“Record labels submit music to radio stations’ music committees where the music is either accepted or rejected for various reasons,” he said.
Kganyago said the station’s music committee would have communicated its decision directly to the record label.
Dlokolo denied that Babes Wodumo’s track had promoted the use of the drug Mercedes.
“There is nowhere in the lyric where the song promotes drugs.
“Babes Wodumo is singing about her dad’s dream car which he never realised,” said Dlokolo.
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