EVENT organiser and owner of Gesh Lounge and Entertainment Bhekani Ndlovu said Mandla “Mampintsha” Maphumulo stole his money.
Ndlovu booked him for The Weekend Shutdown on
29 December but the singer didn’t pitch.
“Mampintsha told me he was booked for another gig here in Empangeni and didn’t mind coming to Gesh Lounge afterwards. He demanded that I pay R20 000 before the event,” he told Daily Sun.
He said he initially paid R10 000 on 20 December.
“Then he said I must make a poster with his face on it, which I did.”
“A day before the event he demanded that I pay the remaining balance, otherwise he wouldn’t come. On the same day, 28 December, I paid another R10 000.”
He said both payments were made to Tshomza Construction, an FNB account.
Daily Sun is in possession of proof of payments amounting to R20 000.
On the day of the event, Bhekani got a call from a man called Phila, claiming to be Mampintsha’s colleague.
“He told me Mampintsha was lost. Phila said Mampintsha had been performing at an event in Stanger and disappeared after the performance.
“I waited for him but he never came. When people realised Mampintsha was not coming, they started attacking me. They felt I had misled them.”
Ndlovu said he was forced to stand at the gate and refund people their money.
“I paid R100 to every one who had a tag.”
He could no longer find Mampintsha.
“Initially he said I must be patient with him. He said he was still waiting for smaller gigs. But I can’t find him or Phila.
“I’m angry because he disappeared with my money. This is theft and I can see they’re avoiding me. If they continue like this I’ll be forced to escalate the matter,” he said.
Mampintsha and Phila could not be reached on their phones and did not respond to WhatsApp or text messages.
