Impostor targets gospel artists
FRAUDSTER SOLICITS CASH
THERE is a fraudster on the loose, and gospel artists are the target, according to industry insiders and an official at Universal Records.
It turns out there is a man impersonating former actorturned businessman and It’s
Gospel Time boss Thokozani “Tox ” Nkosi.
Nkosi, 38, owns Eclipse Television Productions, the company that produces the long-running gospel music talkshow presented by singer Rebecca Malope, among other shows.
The fraudster is believed to have called some of Universal Records’ artists, and tried to dupe them into paying him for an appearance on the SABC2 gospel show.
The bold thug allegedly went as far as calling the stable’s Nkosana Mthunzi, who deals with the label’s gospel artists.
Mthunzi confirmed that he received a call from the alleged fraudster, but he then refused to comment further.
A source said: “There is someone that is calling people, claiming to be Thokozani and demanding money for guest appearances on It’s Gospel Time.
“This guy called Nkosana from Universal and tried to use Sipho Makhabane and another artist ’ s popularity and said they were shooting for the show yesterday.
“Clearly, this can’t be right because Makhabane has been working with Thokozani for a long time.
“He knows you don’t have to pay anyone to be on the show.
“The fake Thokozani also called some other artists looking to market themselves.”
Called for comment, Makha-
’ bane told Sowetan: “No one called me and I’m not going to shoot for the show on Thursday [yesterday]. ”
Nkateko Maluleke, director of legal and business affairs at Universal Records, confirmed: “The person has been saying to artists that he can have them on the show if they give him money, starting from R5 000 going upwards. I only became aware of this a day ago.
“The only case I prefer to give to you is that of one of my artists, Lufuno Dagada, who used to be with the group Worship House.
“He was contacted by the guy last week. I told him that I will make contact with shows for him to appear on, and that he should not talk to the guy.
“I’m told the guy contacted other artists. We are still doing our own investigations at the moment and we haven’t opened a case yet.”
The real Thokozani Nkosi said: “I’m still investigating the matter myself before I can determine whether I should open a case or not.
“I haven’t seen anyone who said he has been defrauded. I was just told this thing is happening. Nkosana called to warn me.
“I was told that someone was called and the person said he was me and wanted money from the person to be on the show.
“I want to inform people that it’s not us, we don’t take money from artists for them to be on the show. “It’s not our policy.” When Sowetan called the cellphone number the fraudster used, it was on voicemail. –