DARK DAY FOR DJs

…Maphorisa, Kabza flirt with humiliation

….Duo comes very close to being arrested

Bongani Ndlovu in BULAWAYO

IT was close, very close!

Celebrated South African Scorpion Kings, DJ Kabza DeSmall and DJ Maphorisa, flirted with the possibility of being arrested here yesterday after a fallout with a local promoter.

The duo ended up being holed up in a Bulawayo hotel, after an arrest warrant was issued, for their failure to perform at the Victoria Falls Carnival earlier in the year.

The popular artists performed at The Boundary at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, in front of a full house, on Sunday night.

However, things changed quickly for them.

In April this year, the Scorpion Kings had been billed to perform at the Victoria Falls Carnival, but they were a no-show, together with Amapiano queen, Shasha, despite being paid.

Victoria Falls Carnival (Pvt) Limited applied to the High Court, which issued a Writ for Personal attachment and Committal to Prison, dated September 18.

The Writ reads:

“Whereas, an order was made by the Honourable Mr Justice Dube-Banda ordering the arrest of the 1st and 2nd respondents and committing them to prison to confirm jurisdiction of the respondents.

“Now, therefore, you are required and directed that you take Petrus Kabelo Motha (Kabza DeSmall) and Themba Sonnyboy Sekowe (Maphorisa) of which they are found in Zimbabwe and deliver them to the Keeper of the Gaol at Bulawayo Prison, together with a copy of this Writ, there to be safely kept until they are served with the summons against them issued by the High Court in Bulawayo for a claim in the sum of US$18 395.82 or have provided security in the sum of US$18 395.82 to the Sheriff of the High Court in Bulawayo, whichever occurs first.”

The situation outside the hotel was tense yesterday morning as the Deputy Sheriff of the High Court, and the police, patiently waited for the two to emerge from the hotel.

They were later joined by officials from the Immigration Department.

Local show promoters, such as 3DEvents, The Boundary proprietor Mr Shasha Gomez and Fife Street Events were all at the hotel.

Bulawayo lawyer, Mr Zibusiso Ncube of Ncube and Partners, took up the role of chief negotiator, with South African Advocate Katlego Malatji, who travelled with the duo, in huddled groups, with the Deputy Sheriff, and cops.

It seems Adv Malatji had been brought because the Scorpion Kings envisaged such a scenario unfolding.

The Scorpion Kings had been scheduled to fly out of Zimbabwe, from the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport, yesterday morning.

At one point it looked as though Kabza DeSmall and DJ Maphorisa would be arrested when negotiations stretched for about five hours.

At around midday, their lawyer Ncube entered the hotel and emerged moments later with wards of cash, which he said was a security deposit, needed by the Deputy Sheriff.

He was then whisked away to the office of the Sherriff where the money was reportedly paid.

Ncube said all had been ironed out and the duo would leave for South Africa in the evening.

“The issue has been resolved for now. There is an order by the court, which attaches the persons of the two artists of the claims from their previous appearance at the Victoria Falls Carnival.

“I think there’s a monetary dispute. So, they are from outside the jurisdiction of this court or authority. What had to happen was to confirm jurisdiction through an application by the applicant.

“In this case, there was no property, but what was attached were the persons. This means they had to be arrested.

“The issue can be resolved in court, or they pay security in terms of a specified amount by the court,” said Ncube.

He said they would dispute that they owe the Victoria Falls Carnival anything.

“The security has been sorted out to the sheriff and we have instructions to challenge the present order and the ultimate claim.

“So, our clients’ view is that they don’t owe any money as alleged.

“We shall be filing the necessary documents to the court,” said Ncube.

Victoria Falls Carnival director, Brent Williamson, said they were happy with the resolution.

“When they didn’t show up, we contacted them and they refunded us the actual performance fees that we had paid.

“I can’t remember the exact amount. There were other costs that we didn’t get back.

“We are now talking to them and I can’t really say much,” said Williamson.

“The money that was paid was the security deposit to cover any cost or if the negotiations are agreed, either it will be given to them or we will take it back.

“So, we are still in negotiations with them and we should have resolved this by the end of the week.”