Christina Aguilera has withdrawn from performing at the ANN7 South African of the Year Awards because of a clash with her judging on The Voice and the awards have responded by completely restructuring the audience of the event.

It's very bizarre because they're refunding all tickets - whether people want to have their tickets refunded or not.

This is the official statement:

Press Release

Christina Aguilera regretfully withdraws from South African of the Year (SATY 2015) Awards show

Grammy Award winner and TV star Christina Aguilera has regretfully had to pull out of the 2nd Annual South African of the Year (SATY) Awards show.

Aguilera has had to withdraw due to a change in scheduling of top-rated TV show “The Voice” on which she is one of the judges. The schedule change requires her to be in the United States on the day of the Awards show.

Aguilera expressed her disappointment at having to cancel, in a message to organisers, and says she hopes to be able to perform in South Africa soon. 

Due to the change in line-up organisers will be refunding ticket fees to all ticket holders and the show, which was initially opened to the public, will become a private event as it was last year with the crème of South African society invited to attend the gala event.

The SATY organisers would like to apologise to all ticket-holders for the inconvenience. Ticketpro are already contacting ticketholders to arrange for the refund of their ticket fees.  

Anyone who has not heard from Ticketpro should call their call centre to ensure prompt refunding takes place.

Editor-in-Chief for ANN7 and SATY 2015 organiser, Moegsien Williams, says ANN7 is deeply disappointed that it will not be able to bring Aguilera to South Africa as planned but that the company understands she has contractual obligations that she must meet.

The organisers are currently engaging with various artist management companies to try to secure another international artist and are also looking to engage further local artists.

Williams said: "Aguilera obviously was a big drawcard but top international performer Jason Derulo as well as our superstar line-up of South African artists will still be on stage on the night of the awards.

"It will be a live broadcast on ANN7 (channel 405) which means the South African public will still be able to enjoy and be part of this year's SATY awards by voting for the nominees in the various categories."

The South African performers include ChianoSky, Mafikizolo, AKA, and The Soil.

The SATY 2015 Awards will take place at the Ticketpro Dome (formerly known as the Coca-Cola Dome) in Northgate onOctober 17. Hosted by ANN7, the Awards both celebrate and honour prominent and unheralded South Africans excelling in various fields. 

ANN7 would like to encourage South Africans to continue to support their favourite nominees by voting in the run up to the Awards. Awards range from business, sport, entertainment, civil society, entrepreneurship and politics as well as ordinary South Africans making a difference in the country. 

The main category is the South African of the Year Award, which is currently held by the Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela. 

In the run up to SATY 2015, ANN7 is screening the show, "I am South African", which airs Monday to Saturday at 6pm. With 83 episodes commissioned, it celebrates South Africa's leading artists, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, politicians and athletes. It is hosted by model, TV presenter and actor, Masego "Maps" Maponyane, and can be seen on ANN7.