Mbalula and muso in Twar

Threats to ‘f@&k’ each other up over ANC song

Mpumalanga musician and ANC song composer Gamelihle Mbuyane claims to be living in fear after the party’s head of elections, Fikile Mbalula, threatened him. Mbuyane and Mbalula were embroiled in a text message conflict that led to the hurling of insults.

During the conflict, Mbalula promised to “f@&k you [Mbuyane] up” following a dispute over a song titled Phakama Ramaphosa, which Mbuyane claimed was written by him. Mbuyane said the song, which was launched last week as part of the election campaign by Mbalula and the ANC, has been registered under his name with the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (Samro). Mbuyane and poet Mzwakhe Mbuli also sang the song during last year’s January 8 statement celebrations. In a heated text conversation, which Sowetan has seen, Mbuyane questioned why his song was used without him being involved. Mbuyane told Mbalula that he “has an evil heart” and “this is a war”, however Mbalula re- sponded: “I will f@&k you up with your threats.” Mbuyane said: “I’m literally shivering and scared because of those words [by Mbalula]. How is he going to f@&ck me up? I’m talking to my lawyers about this.”

Mbalula told Sowetan that Mbuyane was the one who had threatened him first. “Gamelihle is selfish, he wants to work alone and we have lots of artists. I called him to come work with Chicco [Twala] but he denied and now he comes with threats. That’s why I told him that I will f@&k him up back because he’s the one who said so first,” said Mbalula.