Ukhozi FM reassures listeners after voting glitch sparks song of the year concerns

As South Africans prepare to ring in the new year to their favourite hit, a brief technical issue has cast doubt over Ukhozi FM’s much-loved Ingoma Ehlukanisa Unyaka voting process.

Some listeners raised alarms after receiving automated SMS confirmations that did not match the song they believed they had voted for.

The annual, listener-driven campaign determines which song carries the nation into the new year and depends on an SMS voting system, with each entry linked to a specific song code.

While votes were submitted as usual, confusion arose when confirmation messages reflected different song choices, prompting questions about the reliability of the process.

Ukhozi FM has since moved quickly to calm fears, assuring both the public and artists that the integrity of the vote remains intact.

According to the station, which operates under the public broadcaster, the problem was limited to the confirmation message system and did not affect how votes were captured or counted.

Ukhozi FM’s Head of Communications, Mmoni Ngubane, confirmed that a technical fault had been identified and resolved.

“This matter does not impact the recording or allocation of votes,” Ngubane said, explaining that the core system securely logs each vote using the song code, time of submission and the voter’s mobile number.

The station added that corrective steps have already been put in place, alongside enhanced monitoring to ensure the issue does not resurface.

To further strengthen trust, Ukhozi FM emphasised that an independent auditor has been involved from the beginning of the competition to verify all voting data.

“Independent oversight is critical for a campaign of this scale,” Ngubane said.

“It allows us to verify the data and provide assurance to listeners and artists that the process is transparent and credible.”

Ukhozi FM also noted that an internal campaign team is working closely with the auditor and SMS service provider to track system performance, investigate any irregularities and respond to concerns.

The station stressed that any proven cases of misdirected votes would be addressed without delay.