The South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC) head of legal affairs, advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara, has been hauled before court for allegedly threatening to kill former SABC sports commentator and music promoter, Owen Ndlovu.
This comes after Vanara apparently barred Ndlovu from entering the SABC headquarters.
Vanara has also been accused of defending Ukhozi FM business manager, Sbongi Ngcobo, who is facing allegations of contravening the Copyright Act
regarding the voting process for the Song of the Year concept and using it without Ndlovu’s permission.
Vanara is due to appear in court next month, according to Sunday World sources.
Through his company Michael Owen Productions, Ndlovu came up with concept of the Summer Song of the Year and entered into an agreement with the SABC in 2017. The idea was that listeners would pay a small fee to phone in to vote for their song of the year. The proceeds made through the votes would be shared between Ndlovu and the national broadcaster.
Ndlovu is also accusing Vanara of trying to shield Ngcobo from being probed for allegedly misappropriating SABC funds for the Song of the Year competition. Instead, according to Ndlovu, Vanara insulted and threatened him, allegedly vowing to hire hit men from the Eastern Cape to kill him.
In leaked WhatsApp messages and exchanges between the two, which Sunday World have seen, Vanara is said to have threatened Ndlovu.
“I know you blame me for the non-payment. I will not be intimidated by thugs. I am coming back with izinkabi at the end of January,” reads one of the messages.
Ndlovu confirmed having been threatened and said he feared for his life.
“My sin was reporting Sbongi Ngcobo. I’m now left with no choice but to open a case against Vanara. I suspect he is protecting Ngcobo because he is benefiting from these fraudulent and stolen monies,” alleged a fuming Ndlovu.
Vanara didn’t respond to our calls or smses.
Sunday World contacted SABC’s group executive for corporate affairs and marketing, Gugu Ntuli, who said the allegations were serious and had to be investigated
“…we need to get the correct facts. It’s not something we can just respond to,” said Ntuli.
Later, the SABC responded via an emailed statement attributed to Ntuli, saying: “The SABC can confirm that the corporation is not aware of an imminent arrest of Ukhozi FM business manager Ms Sbongi Ngcobo and can further confirm she has not been investigated with the said allegations.
“In terms of the matter concerning Adv Vanara, the SABC was duly informed by advocate Vanara of the criminal case he has instituted against Mr Ndlovu, following threats on advocate Vanara’s life, read the statement. “It must be noted that the SABC takes the safety of its employees seriously, and to this effect, Mr Ndlovu was advised in writing not to enter the premises of the SABC, pending the finalisation of the criminal case against him.”
Gauteng provincial SAPS spokesperson Col Dimakatso Sello said “there has been no suspect arrested”.
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