Music’s biggest night in Mzansi takes place this weekend as the 28th South African Music Awards are in full swing. Live from Sun City, the awards celebrate the very best of South African music with a ceremony spanning over two nights. However, before handing out the awards, RiSA and the SAMAs have announced this year’s esteemed judging panel of over 120.
The esteemed panel of over 120 individuals, selected from across the country, include broadcasters, media experts, journalists, music critics, music compilers, academics and music promoters.
The judges were selected by the RiSA Steering Committee made up of representatives from record labels, and based on their expertise, deployed to preside over various genres. After being presented with entries and without any correspondence among them, the judges independently use an online system to input their scores and justifications.
The information is handed over to auditors for collation and verification before the top 5 in each category is announced as nominees. The winner is made public at the gala event.
RiSA CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi: “The calibre of judges that we have secured for this year’s awards spans across the media landscape. They have all been selected based on their industry knowledge and are the cornerstone for a credible adjudication process. We owe them a debt of gratitude for this important and selfless exercise that takes up their time and energy. All roads lead to Sun City and we are confident that their invaluable expertise will result in the acknowledgement of the best of the best.”
The full panel of #SAMA28 judges:
| Name | Surname | |
| 1 | Ayanda “MVP” Mdluli | Mduli |
| 2 | Aymeric | Peguillan |
| 3 | Beverly | Moubane |
| 4 | Bongani | Nqiqi |
| 5 | Bonolo | Molosiwa |
| 6 | Busisiwe | Zondi |
| 7 | Caron Williams | Williams |
| 8 | Catherine | Grenfel |
| 9 | CJ | De Swart |
| 10 | Craig | Bright |
| 11 | Chriselda | Kananda |
| 12 | David | Lephoto |
| 13 | David (Deza) | Molotlhanyi |
| 14 | Derrich | Gardner |
| 15 | Dudu | Khoza |
| 16 | Duncan G | Gibbon |
| 17 | El | Broide |
| 18 | Emmanuel | Tyija |
| 19 | Everson | Luhanga |
| 20 | Fanele | Bhengu |
| 21 | Felicity | Mdluli |
| 22 | Fikile | Magalemele |
| 23 | Fred | Kayembe |
| 24 | Gabi | Mbele |
| 25 | Gabi | Abrahamse |
| 26 | Glen | Netshipise |
| 27 | Gold | Ntlokwana |
| 28 | Gudla (Abashakaze) | Bangi |
| 29 | Hannelore | Olivier |
| 30 | Heidi | Edeling |
| 31 | Helen | Herimbi |
| 32 | Hennie | Myburgh |
| 33 | Isaac | Mashilo |
| 34 | Ivan “Chilly” | Lesetedi |
| 35 | Jacques | Arendt |
| 36 | Jade | Leaf |
| 37 | James | Shikwambane |
| 38 | Jan | van Zyl |
| 39 | Janina | Van Niekerk |
| 40 | Jannine | Purkiss |
| 41 | Jay | Matli |
| 42 | Jennifer | Senasie |
| 43 | Kabelo | Mekoa |
| 44 | Kagiso | Sebudi |
| 45 | Keamogetswe | Moumakwe |
| 46 | Khanyi | Magubane |
| 47 | Khaya | Ntonjeni |
| 48 | Kurt | Meyer |
| 49 | Lebang | Kgosana |
| 50 | Lebogang | Kgomongwe |
| 51 | Lebohang | Mphotha |
| 52 | Lehlohonolo | Peega |
| 53 | Lerato | Matsoso |
| 54 | Lesiba | Morakana |
| 55 | Liebie | Opperman |
| 56 | Linda | Zulu |
| 57 | Lorenz | Penkler |
| 58 | Mabhande | Mthombeni |
| 59 | Malie | Kelly |
| 60 | Mandla | Mdletshe |
| 61 | Mandla | Buthelezi |
| 62 | Mandla | Ncinitwa |
| 63 | Manqoba -King Winner | Shabangu |
| 64 | Martin | Maphosa |
| 65 | Martin | Oberholzer |
| 66 | Maxwell | Baloi |
| 67 | Mbali | Nkosi |
| 68 | Michael | Bower |
| 69 | Mihlale | Ngele |
| 70 | Misha | Loots |
| 71 | Mohlou | Mile |
| 72 | Mpho | Maumela |
| 73 | Mpho | Mokou |
| 74 | Nelson | Segodi |
| 75 | Nikita | Tsotetsi |
| 76 | Nomthandazo Solomon | Mkize |
| 77 | Nomvula | Mehlomakhulu |
| 78 | Nothemba | Madumo |
| 79 | Ntokozo | Botjie |
| 80 | Ntombifuthi | Dlamini |
| 81 | Omolemo | Maja |
| 82 | Oupa | Molane |
| 83 | Paul | Tisley |
| 84 | Phumzile | Mlangeni |
| 85 | Pieter | Cloete |
| 86 | Rofhiwa | Rampfumadzi |
| 87 | Rofhiwa | Nethenge |
| 88 | Romeo | Mabasa |
| 89 | Sabelo | Mkhabela |
| 90 | Sammy | Rankoana |
| 91 | Sduduzo | Myeni |
| 92 | Sello Richard | Mokgobatlou |
| 93 | Shau | Mudekunye |
| 94 | Sibusiso | Kanyi |
| 95 | Sibusiso | Msane |
| 96 | Siyanda | Fikelephi |
| 97 | Skhumbuzo | Nhlapo |
| 98 | Slindile | Dlamini |
| 99 | Snyman | Rankane |
| 100 | Solly | Mputle |
| 101 | Stephan | Potgieter |
| 102 | Stephanie | Barnadt |
| 103 | Sweet Mike | Singwane |
| 104 | Teboho | Letselela |
| 105 | Tecla | Ciolfi |
| 106 | Thabiso | Ramasethla |
| 107 | Thabo | Matshaka |
| 108 | Thabo | Welcome |
| 109 | Thapelo | Makhubo |
| 110 | Thembi | Thobela |
| 111 | Thomas | Manamela |
| 112 | Thulasizwe | Nkabinde |
| 113 | Tim | Zunckel |
| 114 | Timothy Mogogole | Mogogole |
| 115 | Tshwanelo | Maredi |
| 116 | Vanessa | Buthelezi |
| 117 | Vernon | Nel |
| 118 | Vusi | Langa |
| 119 | Wynand | van Heerden |
| 120 | Xolani | Ndlovu |
| 121 | Zanele | Mauka |
| 122 | Zwelibanzi | Mbhele |
