Pro’s legacy divides family

A family feud is brewing over the legacy of the late muso Pro Kid’s legacy.

Family members are at loggerheads about who is the rightful owner of the Dankie San merchandise and clothing range. This comes after Pro Kid’s younger brother, DJ Citi Lyts, real name Sandile Mkhize, claimed that the Dankie San merchandise was counterfeit as the family did not approve of the brand.

But his father, Zweli Kheswa, revealed that Sandile was trying to halt everything that was owned by his brother in a bid to claim them, adding that he was devastated to hear that his last-born was spreading fake news on social media about the origins of the merchandise and claiming that the family did not know about it.

Kheswa explained that Sandile always envied his brother and wanted to turn fans against the current co-owner of Dankie San merchandise, Thabang Khumalo, in an attempt to claim ownership.

Kheswa said he hoped Sandile would let go of the matter but realised that his childhood jealousy over Pro Kid’s success was overwhelming.

“I always loved my boys, but something that always breaks [my heart] is what I see Sandile becoming. He’s trying to take over his brother’s legacy,” said the father.

“He always wanted to become like his brother. But truth be told, that is not his talent, just as when he was growing up, I made him aware that he was not a poet like his brother and encouraged him to take sound engineering.”

However, Sandile insisted the Dankie San merchandise was fake.

“I did post that people should stop supporting the merchandise because we as a family are trying to build something for Pro, even a foundation, but this guy is ruining our plans,” Sandile said.

In a statement, Khumalo stated that he was the co-founder of the company with Pro Kid long before the rapper died in 2018, adding that the company was not considered a family business at the time.

“In 2010, the clothing brand collapsed after it was defrauded of funds by its managing director. As a result, the operation came to a halt for two gloomy years,” added Khumalo, noting that it was only later that year when he asked Pro Kid to revive the clothing line, which he approved.

“Dankie San was then registered as a company under Linda Mkhize and Thabang Khumalo. Thabang Khumalo is the surviving owner of the company and it is registered under his name.”