PREPARATIONS for Ukhozi FM's controversial Ingoma Ehlukanisa Unyaka top 10 competition have begun.
Mzansi's number one radio station is reminding its listeners that the new rules introduced in 2024 by previous management still exist.
For the past few years, the much-contested competition that comes with one song to usher the millions to the next year has had a lot of surprises, leading to in-fights.
In 2024, the competition became more controversial when the station introduced the new rule for the competition.
The new rule required listeners nominate songs that released between January and October of that year.
Meanwhile, a lot of musicians, including Khuzani Mpungose had not released their songs and have them play-listed on Ukhozi FM at the time.
After that Khuzani, who has already won the competition twice, accused Sbongi Ngcobo who was the then business manager for sidelining him.
Following that, Khuzani announced that he would never be part of the competition again.
Shortly after Khuzani's accusation, Sbongi unexpectedly resigned under unclear circumstances.
For many years, Ukhozi has been regarded as the official radio station to usher millions to the next year as listeners nominated and voted for their favourite song to be played during the year cross-over.
Before opening the nomination processes, the station's new programmes manager Langalethu Cele reminded listeners that the 2024 rule to nominate the Top 10 songs still exists.
"Ingoma Ehlukanisa Unyaka is back, and I want to make it clear that this is all about the listeners. It's their opportunity. Listeners are only allowed to nominate songs that released between January the end of October 2025," he said.
"They must make sure that song is play-listed on Ukhozi FM. If you know someone with a good song and is not play-listed, tell them to submit it as soon as possible so that when we start nominating and voting that song is included."
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Langalethu said before the competition starts, they've managed to get the two auditors to audit the voting process.
"We want fair competition, and we don't want to rob anyone," he said
In 2021, a lot of people were surprised when newcomer DJ Hlo won the competition while many claimed they didn't know him.
In 2023, they were also surprised when Khuzani won with his song Umjolo Lowo, defeating his rival Mthandeni with his track titled Paris.
In 2024, Mthandeni SK finally won with his hit song Gucci, featuring Mawhoo after two defeats.
The fight for the voting system between Sbongi Ngcobo and the SABC Summer Song founder ended in court and Sbongi obtained a five-year protection order against Owen before she resigned from Ukhozi.
At the time, Owen was accusing Sbongi of stealing his idea of voting system after his 2016 to 2019 SABC Summer Song contract expired.
