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RESPECTED music promoter Sam Mhangwani has been accused of failing to pay one of his service providers who helped make the Moretele Park Tribute Concert a success last year.

Mhangwani, who is coowner of Drakensberg Promotions, owners and organisers of the popular annual event, allegedly still owes Carol Lerole, owner of Nthameleng Projects, R70 000.

Lerole, the sister of musician brothers Kwela Tebza, claims she was paid a R50 000 deposit after charging R120 000 to feed some of the VIP guests who attended the show in Mamelodi, Tshwane, in September last year.

Mhangwani, considered a top music promoter after founding this event in 1998 from humble beginnings and mentoring tons of young promoters and artists, could not be reached for comment.

Sunday World left several messages on his cellphone but he did not respond.

At his listed office address in Milpark, Joburg, security guards said his company had vacated the building.

At his home in Diepkloof Extension, Soweto, contractors on the site renovating the mansion said he was not available.

Lerole said: Sam ... asked me to do catering for the Tshwane municipality VIP marquee for 250 people. He also instructed me to serve lunch and supper for the arts and culture department for 150 people.

The total number of people was 400 at R300 per head, which worked out to R120 000. We agreed that he would pay me a 50% deposit before the event and then the balance 48 hours after the event.”

Lerole said when Mhangwani was supposed to settle the bill, he told her that City of Tshwane had not paid him. But an employee at the municipality told her the payment was made.

When I called him again he no longer answered my calls. Now I am getting threats from the people I employed during that project because they think I am the one who is short-changing them.

I also made him aware that I would have to go public about the matter [but] he said he didn t care because some of the newspapers were his sponsors,” Lerole said.