The Tswyza Show, a podcast hosted by Limpopo-born entertainer Kope “Tswyza” Makgae, is at the centre of a heated legal battle that threatens to derail its production.
The dispute pits Makgae against producer Vincent Lithole of LA Solara Media, with sponsor Telkom caught in the middle, as tensions escalate over control of the show’s creative direction.
Legal showdown
Tswyza is a multifaceted talent known for his roles in Generations: The Legacy, Isidingo, and iNKaba. He also hosted the popular reality dating show S’jola Sonke. The media personality is no stranger to the spotlight. However, his latest project, The Tswyza Show, has thrust him into a legal showdown.
According to a letter from Xuba & Associates Attorneys, which was signed on May 5 and seen by Sunday World, Makgae asserts that his agreement is exclusively with Telkom, the show’s sponsor. He says it is not with Lithole or his company, LA Solara Media.
Makgae considers Lithole an independent contractor, with no formal employment, joint venture, or agency relationship. The entertainer claims he was not consulted on key decisions. These include a competition and promotional beat for the show, despite Telkom’s ownership of the episode.
More critically, Makgae objects to what he perceives as Telkom’s attempt to impose Lithole as a service provider. He argues that the sponsor has no legal basis to dictate his production partners.
Telkom caught in the drama
“Given the nature of the relationship between Telkom and our client, Telkom is not in any way entitled to dictate to our client which service provider our client ought to work with,” the letter states.
Makgae is refusing to sign a service-level agreement (SLA) with Lithole. He has halted work on the show until the dispute is resolved. He also demands the freedom to select his own team, particularly for producing music beats.
An anonymous source close to the situation, claiming to represent an agency involved, described the negotiations with Makgae as “very hard”. This suggests that the matter may soon head to court.
“We’re trying to find a resolution, but Tswyza’s legal team is firm. And we might end up in a courtroom,” the source revealed.
Telkom, a major player in South Africa’s telecommunications industry, finds itself in an awkward position as the show’s sponsor.
Makgae’s legal team acknowledges Telkom’s ownership of the bespoke episode. But they emphasise that their client’s obligation is limited to delivering the production, not acquiescing to imposed partnerships.
