Mabala Noise has once found itself at the centre of yet another media frenzy.
This time, the scandal involves the company’s Media Liaison Officer, Mhlo Gumede, who has been with the company since it opened its doors a year and a half ago.
The record label announced last week that one of its employees, Mhlo has been extorting monies from up and coming musicians with the promise to give them recording deals.
The label further claimed that Mhlo was embezzling money from the company itself.
ICYMI: MABALA NOISE PRESSES CHARGES AGAINST ITS OWN EMPLOYEE!
Mabala Noise has subsequently fired him and is also pursuing criminal charges against him.
Although Mhlo has been unavailable to comment to most of the media, more and more details are beginning to emerge.
Mabala Noise label manager Sikhulile Nzuza has spoken to TshisaLive, telling the publication about how they became aware of Mhlo’s illegal actions.
"A friend of mine told me that a young artist had approached them asking to help them raise funds to get signed by Mabala Noise.”
“The person at Mabala Noise asking for money was apparently using my name and when we did some investigating we found that the matter went back to Mhlo. We called him in to show him the evidence we had.
"At the end of the day we terminated his contract because we had proof of wrongdoing and were confident in our case. We then alerted the police and opened a criminal case against him," Sikhulile told the publication.
However, speaking to Drum Magazine, Mhlo has denied every allegation made against him.
Mhlo says that he has never handled Mabala Noise money and it is impossible for him to have embezzled money from the company.
“I don’t even have the company’s banking details for me to have stolen from the company. I was in charge of PR, Marketing, and grooming talent – not signing artists. I was in no position of sign new artists so how can I promise anyone deals.”
“I was on my way out of the company anyway because of a few disagreement. I’m not the first person to be unhappy there and I’m, not the last one but I have agreed with Reggie Nkabinde to not go into detail about our disagreements and I will keep my word.”
“Apart from our disagreements, I know I did a great job at Mabala Noise. Every journey comes to an end,” Mhlo told Drum.
Those who are avid followers of entertainment news will recall that Mhlo is married to Zandile Khumalo, sister to the iconic Kelly Khumalo.
Mhlo and Zandile tied the knot in October 2016 with a lovely traditional ceremony in Umzinto, Mgangeni Kwazulu-Natal.
