The EFF has called on celebs and singers to boycott the Gupta-owned South African of The Year Awards (SATY) later this month.
The annual event by news channel ANN7, which is owned by the controversial Indian family, has lined up a host of stars this year, including A-list singer Jennifer Lopez.
The glittering event is being hosted by Bonang Matheba and Jeannie D, while Lopez will arrive in Joburg in three weeks’ time to perform at the Ticketpro Dome.
But with “state capture” charges levelled against the Gupta family, the EFF want celebs and Joe Public to stay away from the event.
EFF Acting National spokesperson Fana Mokoena says: “The EFF notes that the criminal syndicate of the Guptas are still trying to legitimise their criminal activities in South Africa by hosting a seemingly innocent award ceremony celebrating achieved South Africans.
“We believe this criminal syndicate has no moral ground on which to host such an event when on the other hand they’re stealing billions from the coffers of the country.”
But Idols SA judge Somizi, who has been nominated for Personality of The Year, has ignored the boycott calls, and even posted a picture of the voting details for SATY on his Twitter profile, asking mense to vote for him.
Jeannie D is also not going to pass up the chance to see J.Lo up close and personal, and tweeted: “Yes baby! I always wanted to share a stage with @jlo and now I finally am! #SATY.”
Mokena asked celebs to stage the stay away “in the spirit of great artists of our time like Hugh Masekela, Letta Mbulu, Caiphus Semenya, Zakes Mokae, John Morapama and Merriam Makeba, who boycotted the apartheid regime and actively contributed to the struggle that eventually led to the political emancipation in 1994.”
The Daily Voice contacted ANN7 for comment, who acknowledged receiving our list of questions and promising to “forward it to the relevant people”.
But the broadcaster never responded by last night.