Prominent Funeral Undertaker Icebolethu Group Steps In As Headline Sponsor For Crown Gospel Awards
Famous funeral undertaking company Icebolethu Group is set to become the headline sponsor for this year’s prestigious Crown Gospel Awards, taking place on 15 November at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (Durban ICC) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
MDN News has learnt through its sources that the company, led by businesswoman Nomfundo Mcoyi, has signed a sponsorship deal for this event founded by the late Zanele LaMbokazi Nkambule amounting to approximately R10 million over the next three years.
The source revealed that this agreement includes renaming the event, which will now be known as the Icebolethu Crown Gospel Awards.
It will be remembered that it was previously called the SABC Crown Gospel Awards, as the SABC was its main headline sponsor.
When contacted, Nonjabulo Mdluli, one of the event organisers, she did not want to speak openly about the sponsors.
She indicated that they would announce them in due course as they are still waiting for agreements with other companies and government sectors.
She stated that what she could confirm is that they will officially launch the event soon and open the window for nominations and entries.
When asked about the funding injected by Icebolethu, she said she could not comment on that at the moment, and she also refused to comment on the renaming of the event.
It will be recalled that this event made a comeback to Durban last year after previously being hosted in Johannesburg.
This event is highly anticipated as it will mark the third time it takes place since the passing of its founder, LaMbokazi Nkambule.
The awards ceremony honours those in the gospel music industry, including artists, show presenters, and other stakeholders in the sector.
Attempts to get comments from Mcoyi proved fruitless as her phone rang unanswered.