Grammy-winning sensation Nomcebo Zikode has just hit another devastating legal wall in a court battle that has been quietly boiling for years. On July 24, 2025, the Pretoria High Court dismissed her appeal against her former label, Open Mic Productions, sealing a judgment that many see as both a personal blow and a bigger commentary on artist exploitation in South Africa's music industry.
The singer behind the global hit "Jerusalema"—a track that had the world dancing through lockdowns—has now been ordered to cough up R1.5 million in legal costs and continue work under a contract she claims has robbed her of proper royalties and recognition.
According to Judge Graham Moshoana, Nomcebo’s appeal had "no reasonable prospects of success." This effectively locks her into the May 2025 ruling that requires her to complete two full albums before she can leave Open Mic.
And the court costs? Not even the end of it. With this latest defeat, Nomcebo now faces additional legal bills that could run deep into her pockets.
Nomcebo didn’t hold back in her response. "This judgment is deeply troubling," she said. "But I will not stop fighting for fairness and transparency in our industry."
Her legal team hinted at pursuing further legal avenues, possibly even taking the matter to the Constitutional Court.
Meanwhile, Open Mic Productions has been basking in the win. Lionel Jamela, Managing Director of the label, claims they "invested heavily" in Nomcebo and accused her of seeking "undue ownership" over Jerusalema, originally produced by Master KG.
This comment alone lit up social media.
Fans, fellow artists, and legal analysts weighed in online:
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"Why are vocalists always the last to eat off their own talent?"
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"Jerusalema is nothing without Nomcebo’s voice. Period."
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"South African music contracts need serious reform."
It’s not the first time artist-label relationships have exploded into public view. The Nomcebo case has become a lightning rod for broader questions about who profits off the art and whose voices remain silenced, literally and contractually.
This saga also renews attention on the South African Copyright Amendment Bill, a stalled piece of legislation meant to modernize intellectual property rights and royalty transparency. If it had passed, Nomcebo's situation might have looked very different.
Despite the drama, Nomcebo isn't backing down from her passion. She's teased new projects and remains vocal about her plans to empower up-and-coming artists.
"We can sing through the pain," she wrote recently on X, formerly Twitter. "But we also deserve to be paid for it."
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What do YOU think? Should artists be bound to contracts they believe are unfair, even after global success? Is Nomcebo being made an example, or is this justice served?
Vote in our poll or drop your opinion in the comments below!
Tags: Nomcebo Zikode, Jerusalema, Open Mic Productions, South African music industry, artist rights, royalty disputes, music contracts, Pretoria High Court, Lionel Jamela
Sources:
~BILLY JAYDEN LOUIS
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