Mandoza family deny any scandal
Distance themselves from claims
MPHO Tshabalala has denied recent media reports claiming that she fired the manager of her late husband, legendary kwaito star Mandoza.
Allegations have surfaced about an alleged fraudulent claim made against her husband’s estate for which she hadn’t given her consent.
The article, published in a weekend newspaper, stated that Mpho had given the former manager, Kevin Ntaopane, his marching orders after she discovered a letter he and People’s Poet Mzwakhe Mbuli allegedly wrote to the Musicians Association of South Africa on her behalf, requesting funds to bankroll Mandoza’s record label, Nkalakatha Records.
Mpho denied the newspaper report yesterday and pleaded with the media to let her husband rest in peace.
“Can you please lay off my husband’s name,” she said.
“I never went to any papers accusing anyone. I never said anything about Kevin and Mzwakhe,” she said.
But the journalist who wrote the article, Ngwako Malatji, insisted he had spoken to Tshabalala.
“The question I’m asking myself is: Did I speak to a ghost or a zombie?” he said during an interview with Power FM yesterday.
“We have spoken to Mpho and she knows that we have spoken to her. We will get cellphone records which will reveal who lied. Mrs Tshabalala knows the truth. We stand by our story. We can’t fabricate comments about people,” he said.
Malatji said that if he was found to have lied, his employer should fire him.
Responding to the allegations, Mbuli said: “If some of us have committed fraud we must be arrested. I am not above the law. Sunday World must bring the charges. I did not want to go to the press ombudsman. This is about culture. Where is ubuntu?”
Mandoza’s uncle Mzwakhe Tshabalala requested that the media direct any further questions to him.
“I am saddened by the stories that emerged over the weekend regarding my nephew. Please also call me with any questions and not our makoti (Mpho) until she is able to do something.”
Ntaopane declined to comment on the matter.
The paper’s editor Abdul Milazi echoed Malatji’s sentiments that the paper stood by the story.
“Anyone who claims to have not spoken to our reporter is telling a serious fib. Sunday World stands by its story.”
Mandoza died on September 18 after suffering from cancer.
The question I’m asking myself is: Did I speak to a ghost or zombie?