R Kelly pulls out of Madiba concert

AMERICAN R&B singer R Kelly would no longer perform at the Nelson Mandela Sport and Culture Day in Joburg this Saturday, the Arts and Culture Department said yesterday.

“We apologise to R Kelly’s many South African fans for this unfortunate situation, but remain confident that our current line-up will do justice to Madiba’s legacy of peace, unity, and reconciliation,” the department said.

The day will see Bafana Bafana play against Burkina Faso in a friendly match, while the Springboks open their Rugby Championship campaign against Argentina on Saturday afternoon.

The department said it had entered negotiations with the promoter of the R&B singer’s recent tour to South Africa.

It was subsequently announced that the star was on the bill for the music concert that would follow the day’s sport events.

“Soon afterwards, however, the department learned that R Kelly’s management had not been made aware of this agreement, and that he had departed the country as planned,” the department said.

“We are taking legal advice on this matter.”

The line-up for the Nelson Mandela Sport and Culture Day concert includes DJ Black Coffee, Zahara, Toya Delazy, Mafikizolo, Kurt Darren, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Salif Keita and Elvis Blue. – Sapa