Afropop chanteuse Zandile Khumalo is being accused by a Mpumalanga businessman of “crooking” him out of money and sending him fake proof of payment when he pestered her for payment.
Sabelo Nhlabathi, owner of trendy joint called Paradise Cove Pub and Grill in Barberton, said he booked and paid Khumalo R40 000 to perform at the popular drinkery on Saturday.
In addition to the performance fee, he paid her R3 000 for accommodation.
He said Khumalo, the sister of Afro-pop songbird and femme fatale Kelly Khumalo, was fetched and chauffeured to his establishment from a local swanky hotel together with her manager and husband Mhlo Gumede.
He said while Khumalo was strutting her stuff, her husband got on stage to speak to the songstress.
After a few minutes, said Nhlabathi, Gumede approached him and told him there was something wrong with their children at home and asked him to lend them R3 000 urgently.
“I then asked my daughter to transfer money.”
“I explained to her they said they had an emergency with the kids at home and needed the money urgently.”
He said his daughter transferred the money into Gumede’s account and they promised to pay it back the following day.
When several days passed without payment, he pestered them to do so, especially because as his daughter complained she was unable to balance their financial books because of the R3 000.
“Gumede sent me proof of payment via WhatsApp.
“I realised later that it was fake because the money did not reflect into my account,” Nhlabathi said.
“When I confronted them about this fake proof of payment, Gumede immediately deleted it from our WhatsApp chats,” he said.”
Nhlabathi said when he contacted them again and agitated for payment, they subjected him to a barrage of abusive epithets and even called him a hick from bullamakanka and a farm boy.
“Farm boy or not I want my money, if they don’t pay me I’m going to the lawyers and will take them to the Small Claims Court, “ he said.
Gumede said he did not pay him back because he threatened him with violence. He also denied that they him fake proof of payment.
