Crooner sings debt blues in court
AFRO-SOUL singer and television actor Kabomo Vilakazi has been taken to the small claims court after he failed to pay money owed.
Sowetan has seen a copy of a letter of demand dated September 5 at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court and delivered on Tuesday to Vilakazi’s parent’s home in Farrarmere, Benoni.
Vilakazi owes director of photography Nontuthuko Mahlangu R27 500 for her work in the shooting of two films.
The first film, Droplets, was shot last December and the other, While
the Melody, was completed in April. The letter states that Mahlangu was owed for camera work done from December 12 to 13 and, for the two days’ work, she claimed R5 000 plus R4 000 to pay the second camera operator she had to source.
It also stated she claimed R2 500 for the Droplets pick-up shoot on March 27. She further claimed R13 500 for the shoot of Vilakazi’s film Melody from March 28 to April 9. On April 17, they did a pick-up shoot for Melody and she claimed R2 500.
“The last time I called we ended up fighting because I did not understand why he would pay some of the camera operators and not me,” said Mahlangu.
According to Mahlangu, she had tried to contact him many times but the phone went to voicemail.
She said when they started shooting they were under the impression that Vilakazi had funds. They noticed after a week that he was struggling.
Earlier this year, Vilakazi reportedly owed well-known TV actors Sello Maake ka-Ncube, Kagiso Modupe and Thando Thabethe.
Sowetan has attempted to contact Vilakazi without success. He didn’t respond to SMSES and the phone was on voicemail.