The controversy surrounding a hit amapiano song Ka Valungu has exposed a family secret of Tsonga disco king Peta Teanet.
As the country dances to the hit track, which is sitting on number one on the top 10 songs on Spotify, Teanet’s children have lifted the lid on the alleged bad treatment they have received from their uncle and family spokesperson Forsta Teanet.
The 15 children, who were born from eight of Teanet’s wives, have accused Forsta of fostering deals in relation to their father’s music behind their backs.
They say this had been going on since their father passed away 27 years ago.
Teanet’s children have also blamed the uncle for their painful upbringing between Johannesburg and Limpopo while he benefitted from their inheritance.
They accused Forsta of failing to even share a cent with them, claiming that he did not give them their share of the muso’s estate and continues to collect royalties from his music.
The uncle, they said, has only visited some of them twice since their father’s passing in 1996. After years, the siblings have come together to take on their uncle and salvage whatever is left of their father’s legacy.
Speaking to Sunday World on Monday, one of Peta’s sons and the children’s elected spokesperson Zaineb Teanet, said they were shocked to hear that their uncle was speaking on their behalf on negotiations relating to the Ka Valungu remake by Tebza De DJ.
“I have not had any communication with Fosta since I was a toddler. I am not sure how many of us he has been in touch with since our father’s passing. Our lives have been hard, if I have to speak for myself,” said Zaineb.
“Life was difficult, we believe that Fosta ended up being the beneficiary and signed a contract saying he will equally share the funds among Teanet’s kids, but he never did.”
During his prime, Teanet was a mega-superstar with multiple albums under his name. He lived in a mansion in Tzaneen with his wives and children.
Zaineb said none of his father’s children benefitted from his estate, noting that these include accolades, properties and music royalties.
“All we want is for the truth to come out. We want the rightful owners of his legacy to benefit, which is us his children,” said Zaineb.
Sunday World reported on Saturday that Ka Valungu was removed from streaming sites including Spotify and iTunes.
However, it made it back online and on radio after Forsta said Tebza De DJ and his record label had reached an agreement.
However, the children say they do not want their uncle, who is also a musician, to handle their father’s affairs anymore, because he sidelines them and fails to communicate.
Teanet’s daughter Shamsunisa Cox said Forsta is involving himself in her father’s affairs so that he can benefit.
“None of our dad’s estate was given to us. With Ka Valungu, I am not sure how Forsta got involved, because communication was supposed to be between Tebza and us,” Cox said.
“Forsta has not spoken to us in regard to this song. He has not communicated any finances with us or anything.”
Another daughter Nomsa said the siblings have come together to probe who has been benefitting from their father’s assets.
“We only started taking action this year, we were not even aware who was actually benefitting from our dad’s estate,” said Nomsa.
“As far as I know, the wives were made to sign some documents that Forsta should be in charge when our father passed in 1996.”
Forsta turned down an opportunity to give his side of the story in detail, only saying the children must not discuss family matters in public.
“They must contact me, we will sit down as a family and discuss because it looks like they are being used by other people,” he said.
“They must call me, we will discuss this respectfully and be mindful of Peta’s legacy.”
He added that alternatively, the children can approach the court to challenge his power of attorney.
“Nothing was done illegally. I have all the documents. They can go to court and I will defend myself with all my documents,” said Forsta.
The children declined suggestions to call their uncle, saying they will meet him in court.
“We are going to sue Forsta, Tebza and everybody that is involved including the record labels, so that they can pay us what us rightfully ours,” said Cox.
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