Johannesburg - Two independent auditors are to be roped in to resolve the ongoing dispute over South African pop icon Brenda Fassie's royalties, the SA Music Rights Organisation (Samro) said on Thursday.
The auditors will be jointly appointed by Samro and the executor of Fassie's estate David Feldman, Samro said through a statement by JT Communications.
"If the parties fail to agree on the two independent auditors, the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants would be asked to appoint the auditors," Samro said.
Ending a court battle spanning two years, the two parties on Monday agreed to resolve the matter out of the Johannesburg High Court, hence the appointment of the independent auditors.
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Feldman initially issued summons on Samro in October 2006, asking the organisation to provide statements of accounts in respect of public performances by Fassie, royalties payable and contributions into the Samro retirement annuity fund.
"Samro argued in its plea that it did account to Brenda Fassie as required... As part of the discovery process Samro provided the executor with further information and documents, including royalty statements dating back to 1990, as well as company minutes dating back to 1962," it said.
During the first trial appearance before acting Judge GL Bhikha on February 11 this year, Samro suggested the appointment of an independent auditor who will be given unfettered access to its internal systems and information in order to verify if Fassie was properly paid.
But Feldman suggested the appointment of two auditors instead.
On Monday, it was eventually agreed that two auditors be appointed and that they be jointly briefed by the two parties and their legal counsels.
"The essence of the brief would essentially be to determine whether Samro accounted to Brenda Fassie in terms of its rules," it said.
Once briefed, the auditors will be given access to Samro's information and personnel to form independent expert opinion. - Sapa
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