A Gauteng-based impresario is demanding R1-million from amapiano producers DJs Maphorisa and Kabza de Small for allegedly stealing his intellectual property.
Thabiso Tshabalala, who organised Afro-pop artist Sjava’s popular musical event called “One Night With Sjava”, sent a letter to the famous amapiano wizards in November last year demanding the wags of lucre.
The quantum is part of the R3-million the award-winning musicians generated from their show “Scorpion Kings Live At Sun Arena”, which Tshabalala said was the concept they thieved from him.
Tshabalala is now gearing up for a legal showdown with the two in court after they failed to comply with his demand for the past eight months.
In the letter of demand, which was sent by his lawyer, advocate Elisa Ramalivhana, Tshabalala said he approached Maphorisa, real name Themba Sekowe, with a proposal to host the show in Pretoria on January 4, 2020.
He said he approached Sekowe confident that if he works with Kabza de Small, real name Kabelo Mahlangu, the show would be successful.
Prior to this meeting, he said, he had already secured sponsorship and Sun Arena as the venue for the event. Tshabalala said they agreed to equally share the proceeds from the event, which is equal to over 33% each.
He said after this agreement, he learnt that another event bearing the same name, was to be held at the same venue but with music promoter Glen Netshipise of Glen 21 as promoter.
“This was a breach of the verbal agreement with Mr Sekowe and Mr Mahlangu, and our client further informed Mr Netshipise of same. Our client further instructs that the plans for the event halted when the country was placed under level 5 lockdown as part of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic,” reads the letter.
Plans, he said, were to resume in May 2022, when the limitations on large events in the country were lifted. He said at this point he contacted Maphorisa and Kabza de Small’s manager Thuli Keupilwe, when he noted the event bearing the same name was being advertised and was billed for the Sun Arena on July 22, 2022.
“All attempts at communication were, however, ignored by Mr Sekowe and Miss Keupilwe, and the event did, in fact, proceed. Our client’s concept was exploited for profit and in breach of the verbal agreement as stipulated above, and it is our instruction that an estimated R3-million was profited from the event at his exclusion, as according to social media posts by Mr Sekowe and Mahlangu, the event had sold out. It is therefore our instruction, to demand, as hereby we do, payment of R1-million within 14 days of receipt hereof, failing which we hold instructions to issue summons without further notice, the costs of which will be for your account,” reads the letter.
Tshabalala, who is also one of the executive producers of The Braai Show with Cassper Nyovest”, said his lawyers will issue combined summons against the artists and Netshipise , saying they have mistaken his silence for a chink in his armour.
For the latest entertainment news from Sunday World, click here.
Or read the latest from Shwashwi here.
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa.
