The 31st Annual South African Music Awards (or SAMA31) were initially scheduled for the first half of 2025 but have been rescheduled to 14 December 2025. Primarily sponsored by the Motsepe Foundation, the event is presented by the Recording Industry of South Africa. It will be broadcast live on YouTube and SABC1, honouring excellence in South African Music by celebrating the best albums, music videos, and songs released in South Africa between 16 April 2024 and 31 January 2025.

Background The 31st Annual South African Music Awards (SAMA31) celebrates the excellency in South African music and honours the best music videos, albums and songs commercially released in the country during the period 16 April 2024 to 31 January 2025. Entries for nomination consideration were open from 10 December 2024 to 31 January. For members of the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA), the entry fee for an individual or entity was R862.50 ($), and for non-members it was R4,600.00 ($) including value-added tax per entry for all categories. The RiSA extended the entry period to 10 February 2025, due to various requests from the industry.

The South African Music Awards (SAMAs) have struggled to secure sponsorship since MTN ended its partnership in 2014. The SAMAs signed a three-year contract with the Motsepe Foundation in 2023, which sponsored the ceremonies in 2023 and 2024, with 2025 marking their final year. To attract new sponsors, the SAMAs' spokesperson, Lesley Mofokeng told The Citizen that the SAMA31 will take place in the first half of 2025, the first since 2019. In August 2025, RiSA announced that the event was rescheduled to November 2025, sponsored by the Motsepe Foundation, the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, CAPASSO, SAMRO, SAMPRA, and SABC as a media partner. They also confirmed no red carpet event would occur, with the first bach of nominations (Technical Categories, Album Genre Super Categories and the Rest of Africa Award) announced virtually on the SAMAs' social media platforms on 28 August 2025, from 18:00 to 19:00 South Africa Standard Time (UTC+02:00).

The Public Voting Categories, Record of the Year and Music Video of the Year were not open for submissions. Record of the Year nominees were selected using a weighted formula combining airplay (tracked by Radiomonitor) and streams (from the Official South African Charts) to determine the top 20 songs. Music Video of the Year nominees were chosen based on the most-played music videos (excluding visualiser) from RiSA Audio Visual Licensing NPC and YouTube data, collected between 16 April 2024, and 31 January 2025.

Winners and nominees Below is the list of nominees.References:

Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.https://www.timeslive.co.za/tshisa-live/2025-12-15-full-list-of-winners-musics-finest-honoured-at-sama31/https://slikouronlife.co.za/sama31-full-winners-list/

Top 5 Categories + Goldmax – Play at Your Own Risk Black Motion - "Takala" Thandiswa Mazwai Goldmax – Play at Your Own Risk Nontokozo Mkhize - Lindiwe

Album Genre Super Categories + Kelvin Momo – Ntsako Vigro Deep – Your Piano is Not My Piano Kelvin Momo – Sewe Mellow & Sleazy – Midnight in Sunnyside 3 Zee Nxumalo – Inja Ya Game Spoegwolf – Eindbestemming Pietman Geldenhuys – Vaalsand Neil Sandilands – Land & Sand Ampie – Niemandsland Majo – Geraamtes Thandiswa Mazwai – Sankofa Zamajobe – UMI Zoe Modiga – Nomthandazo Ndu Shezi – Isibusiso Sam Mthuthu – Indumiso YabeNguni Francis Soal – Hindsight 2020 Yoav and Jabulile Majola – Unyazi Zadok – Perspective: Black Th&o – Emlotheni Spoegwolf – Berge Elaine – Stone Cold Heart Mikhalé Jones – Too Many Promises Filah Lah Lah – On Air Clxrity – It's Clear to See The Big Hash – Heartbreak Hotel (Deluxe) 25K – Loyal to the Plug: The Life & Times of Don Kilograms Blxckie – See U Soon (Deluxe) Tony Dayimane – Red October: Induction Loatinover Pounds – Pray 4 Pitori Sizwe Alakine – Audio 2D: Deaf Darkie MaxX and Love – These Blues Might Get You Too Bloumoord – Vir Mekaar Prime Circle – The World We Know The Man Motels – Old Wounds The Morning After – Look at You Now Melanie Scholtz – Seven Just 6 – uKhisimusi – An African Christmas Tony Drake – Room for Everyone Nue Sam – Nonyezi The Morning After – Look at You Now Goldmax – Play at Your Own Risk Mr Thela – Tronics Land 3 DJ Lag – The Rebellion DJ Sandiso – Nande 3.0 Lelowhatsgood – Next Level Dlala Thukzin – Finally Famous Too Black Motion – The Cradle of Art Mörda – Cr4zy!!.. Shimza – Dreaming Caiiro – Caiiro Ayanda Ntanzi – According to Grace, a One Man Show Betusile – Uyinqoba Yam (Jehovah Nissi) Tebs David – The Journey (Part 1) Malusi Mbokazi – The Full Circle Revival Rofhiwa Manyaga – Rofhiwa Dzina Takie Ndou – The Glory Jabu Hlongwane – Crossover Experience 4 SbuNoah – Heavenly Psalm Level 2 (Live at Goshen City Church) Nontokozo Mkhize – Lindiwe Mmangaliso – Living Word JTG Gospel Choir – Morena Re Ya Leboga Wacha Mkhukhu Wachumlilo – Re Kgoeletsa Magodimong House of Mercy – Busa Jeso Barongoa Ba Morena – Ikutana Di Bruin Gospel Projects – Nkapese Ka Maatla Makhadzi Entertainment – Miracle Child (Deluxe) Keitumetse Mangate Production – O Moleele MmaAusi – Mmakgodu Pleasure Tsa Manyalo – Bakokota Khuzani – Angidlali Nezingani Umafikizolo – Ngathi Nguye Phuzekhemisi – iPolitiki Ntencane – Alingeni Imithente – Amathambo Kagogo Peter Auret – Hope Dies Last Nduduzo Makhathini – uNomkhubulwane Nick Ford – Terra Solus Nomfundo Xaluva – Ndilapha Ncesh Nonxishi – Apho Kungenje Derek Gripper – Ballaké Sissoko & Derek Gripper John Lundun – In the Morning Chris Vale, Eugene Joubert and Franco Prinsloo, Marlize Hattingh – By Allen Skone Dinge Vox Chamber Choir and Franco Prisloo – A Season in Paradise Orecchiette – Awake for 22 Hours Sjava – Isibuko (Deluxe) Nomfundo Moh – Twenty Four Malik – Malik Sjava – Inkanyezi (Live) Dalom Kids – Collaboration with Friends Luwe Da Lion – After All Dream Lloyd – Mekwei Anele Jahmena – The Rise Dimahr – Flaws in Frame Botanist Mr Lamington – Area Code

Technical Categories + Shekhinah featuring Moliy – "Risk" Soa Mattrix – "Umbuzo" Mthandeni SK featuring MaWhoo – "Gucci" TitoM and Yuppe featuring S.N.E and EeQue – "Tshwala Bam" Blxckie – "South" Thandiswa Mazwai – Sankofa Zamajobe – UMI Black Motion – The Cradle of Art Qü – Reprise on 2nd Avenue Linda Sikhakhane – iLadi Thandiswa Mazwai – Sankofa Black Motion – The Cradle of Art Sjava – Isibuko (Deluxe) Keenan Meyer – Reawakening Jeremy Loops – Feathers & Stone Mpho.Wav – "Hlala" TitoM, Yuppe and Burna Boy featuring S.N.E – "Tshwala Bam" (Remix) Woodblock DJs, Mvelost, Sef Off and Somololo – "Skuta Baba" Jnr SA Tycoon – "Mngani" Alec Rorisang Kobeng – "Iza Mawala" Black Motion and Afrikan Roots featuring Mörda and DJ Buckz – "Takala" Kelvin Momo, Sino Msolo and Stixx featuring Mashudu – "Waze Wamuhle" Kususa and Anatii featuring MaWhoo, Noxolo Ngema and King Deetoy – "Ematshwaleni" Matt Davies and Masuda – "Stay with Me" Mas Musiq, Lawd Weezy and DJ Maphorisa featuring Starquality, Chley and Kabza de Small – "Amalang"

Public Vote + Mthandeni SK ft. MaWhoo - Gucci Mthandeni SK ft. MaWhoo - Gucci

Special awards In the list below, winners are highlighted in bold where necessary. + Solly Moholo Bassie – "Kwelanga 2.0" ft M Touch, Ranger, Amaza, Tman Xpress, LeeMcKrazy & Zimmy Ayra Starr – The Year I Turned 21 Bensoul – The Party & After Party Wizkid – Morayo Tems – Born in the Wild Fireboy DML – Adedamola

Prizes The cash prizes awarded to the winners of the Annual South African Music Awards. Adapted from the SAMA31 general rules booklet. + List of cash prizes per category Awards Prizes ZAR USD Top 5 categories 15 000 Album of the Year 25 000 Genre categories 10 000 Chairman's Award 20 000 Lifetime Achievement Award International Achievement Award Technical awards 10 000 Best-selling awards Album of the Decade 20 000 Record of the Decade Public vote categories Most Streamed Song of the Year 10 000

References