A North West man is demanding a refund after booking gospel singer Solly Moholo and Motsweding FM presenter Solly “JDSol” Mputle to perform at a tombstone unveiling and birthday party, but they failed to pitch up.
Letlhogonolo Maroga of Tweelaagte, outside Ramokokastad near Mabeskraal, says he had spent five months planning his grandmother’s tombstone unveiling and his birthday party last month, but Mputle and Moholo failed to appear as scheduled.
The management of the gospel artist, who is gravely ill and awaiting surgery in the hospital, has since distanced him from Stevens Masombuka, the man who Maroga paid for the gig.
Maroga said a week before the event on August 31, he received a phone call from Masombuka informing him that the muso, real name Solomon Molokoane, would not be able to perform at the event due to his hospitalisation following a collapse while on tour in Botswana.
At the time, Maroga had already paid Masombuka R36 000 for the booking of Moholo, a popular live performer known for his trademark ZCC-like uniform and mokhukhu dance and music.
Booking fee, accommodation paid
He therefore relied on Mputle, whom he had invited to be the DJ and master of ceremonies for the day.
According to Maroga, Mputle promised to bring along music group Rhythmic Elements and DJ Fino K instead.
He said Mputle charged him R40 000, which he paid, and a further R4 800 was paid for accommodation at a local guesthouse.
Maroga said prior to the event, Mputle called him and borrowed R3 000 for petrol and refreshments.
“He then called on the day of the event around 5am and told me that he was going to be a bit late. I was expecting him at the ceremony at around 9am, but he did not pitch up,” Maroga said.
DJ Fino K eventually arrived, performed for less than an hour, and left.
Apology from Mputle
“He came around 3pm and performed for about 45 minutes. After realising that Mputle was not coming, he left,” frustrated Maroga said.
He said Mputle called him on September 2, two days after the event, and apologised.
“He assured us that he was taking full responsibility and that I should not blame Mckenzie [Mpho Matome of Rhythmic Elements] because he did not inform him about the gig.
“He said he was raising money so he could refund me, but now he isn’t returning my calls.”
Sunday World has seen a WhatsApp message in which Mputle apologised.
Maroga said he also tried contacting Masombuka to get his refund.
“Stevens told me that he was busy raising funds for Moholo, who is to undergo surgery, and acknowledged that he needed to refund me, but he later ignored my call.”
He said he became worried when Masombuka did not take his calls and called an alternative number he was told belonged to Moholo.
Gladness Thobakgale, Moholo’s manager, answered the phone when he called.
“She told me that Stevens was no longer working with Moholo and that Moholo was unaware that he had a gig lined up in Tweelaagte.
“I want the money I paid for the accommodation, as well as the booking money from both of them.”
I have never met Masombuka
Thobakgale said they heard about Masombuka but claimed that Moholo stopped working with him 10 years ago.
“I have literally never met Masombuka. I started working for Ntate Moholo in August last year. There was a time where he would contact us, sending us the list of bookings.
“We didn’t take any of those bookings because we didn’t know him. It seems that he then continued telling people that he is representing Ntate Moholo, which is not okay,” she said.
Moholo suffered a stroke and multiple organ failure while in Botswana last month.
Thobakgale said his condition is critical but added that they have hope for his recovery.
“He is still in the hospital, but we are hopeful that he will recover because it’s not like he has passed on; he is still alive. We have hope,” she said.
I owe him money
Mputle admitted that he owed Maroga money.
“Unfortunately, what Mr Maroga is saying is the truth. I owe him money, and I had promised to pay back every cent owed to him,” he said.
Mputle did not explain why he failed to pitch for the gig.
When contacted for comment, Masombuka acknowledged that he owed Maroga and said he had recently lost his mother and that he would pay back the money.
