These genres include adult contemporary, Afrikaans, classical, dance, faith, jazz, Kwaito, Maskandi, pop, rap, reggae, RnB, rock, soul, and traditional.

At times genres are grouped together into a single category based on their popularity amongst a certain demographic (e.g. Best Urban Artist nominees are often Hip Hop, African pop and Kwaito artists grouped together since these genres are popular amongst South Africans living in urban areas).

As of the 27th South African Music Awards, artists working in the Gqom and Amapiano genres will be considered in separate categories.

[3] The winners of the following SAMAs are not chosen by a panel of judges: As per the committee guidelines, only citizens and permanent residents of South Africa are eligible for a nomination.

[3] At the beginning of the adjudication process a Supervisory Committee is set up, it consists of two members from each of five "super genre" categories, which are Global Charts, Urban, Traditional, Technical and Jazz or Classical.

[27] May 2017 Blacks Motion [28] June 2018 Dineo Ranaka Mpho Popps [29] June 2019 Twasa Seoke Melanie Bala Khuli Chana Mpho Popps Nomzamo Mbatha - 7 August 2020 Lawrence Maleka At the 1st South African Music Awards, kwaito artist Arthur Mafokate performed a simulation of anal sex on a dancer.

At the 3rd South African Music Awards, popular kwaito-group Boom Shaka decided to re-create the anthem in a "funky" on-stage performance, that later caused a "public blacklash".

[16] Towards the end of the five-hour-long 7th South African Music Awards, Brenda Fassie accused a prominent journalist of being a homosexual - using the derogatory slang word moffie.

[30] Before the SAMA25, Simon Makgatholela, Kenny Makweng, and Ronee Sathekge, members of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC), launched a campaign criticising the SAMA for discrimination.

[31] In response to the accusation, Recording Industry of South Africa CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi stated, "The Samas are open to all music and do not discriminate against any genre.