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Bruce Ndlovu
The story of the fall of Tich Mataz from the upper echelons of the South African entertainment scene after running foul of that countrya��s immigration laws in the late 90s is one of the most fabled tales in Zimbabwe.
Back when Tich Mataz was one of the most recognisable faces on local TV as a presenter of popular music programmes like Coke On The Beat, those that were familiar with South African TV, when it was not as popular or prevalent as it is now, told the tale of how the Zimbabwean performer lost everything as he was deported after years of steady accumulation of wealth and influence.
Over the years the story of Mataza��s sudden fall in Mzansi has gathered dust.
Last week South African artiste and businessman DJ Sbu awakened old ghosts when he alluded to the fact that Mataz (ABOVE) was on course to be one of the richest media moguls in Mzansi before his deportation.
a�?With the great Tich Mataz, he was way ahead of his time. If he was never deported from South Africa 10 years ago I have no doubt this man would be one of our South African billionaires.a�?
a�?Almost 20 years ago in his early twenties Tich Mataz was a trendsetter. He dressed in smart designer suits, had a mansion on the hills of Northcliff, a banging night club in Rosebank, a radio show on 5FM, and a very popular TV show on SABC,a�? the MoFaya founder wrote on Instagram after meeting Mataz during his Zimbabwean adventure last Saturday.
While the story is a familiar tale in Zimbabwean entertainment circles, few have concrete facts about what really happened to Mataz and his fortune in South Africa almost two decades ago.
Mataz, real name Tichafa Augustine Matambanadzo, was deported on 24 March in 1998 after South Africa Home Affairs officials discovered that he had fraudulently acquired a South African identity document and had no valid working permit.
His deportation at the time seemed opportunistic, with some attributing it to the xenophobic bug which had caught hold of South Africa even in the 90s, although then Home Affairs spokesman Manase Makwela said interest in Mataza��s citizenship only arose when Mataz wanted the department to issue him with a passport to travel to Burkina Faso to represent the SABC at Africa Cup of Nations.
Makwela said during their investigation, they discovered that Mataz had apparently been issued with a work permit on March 31, 1994, which was valid only until March 31, 1995, to work at BOP Broadcasting in Bophuthatswana.
He had worked and resided in South Africa illegally since then. A fact that many are not familiar with however, is that Mataz and his wife Penelope, had been deported once before his final exile from his adopted country.
After uncovering that he was illegally in South Africa, the South African Home Affairs Department issued Mataz with a Section 41 permit on 2 March.
This permit was valid until 16 March and gave Mataz the opportunity to wrap up his business commitments before being deported on 18 March. The permit also stated that during that time Mataz should not work while in South Africa. But he defied the conditions of the permit and worked on both Woza Weekend and Radio 5 (now 5FM) during that period.
Mataz then came back to Zimbabwe where he acquired a visitora��s permit which turned out to be the final nail in his coffin.
a�?We again discovered that Mataz had lied to obtain the visitora��s visa and said he had never been deported from South Africa. This resulted in us deporting him for the second time last week Wednesday,a��a�� said Makwela.
The Home Affairs department seemed to be particularly harsh on Mataz, with the department vowing that he would not be allowed back into the country.
While the deportation saw him lose face, his pocket suffered the most from the fiasco.
Although Mataz had made his name with South African audiences as the smooth talking radio DJ and sports presenter on Mabaleng and Woza Weekend, he also established himself as a businessman, owning a promotions company called Khulumani and a nightclub called Mataz Connection in Rosebank, thus earning himself the status of being among the wealthiest men in South Africa.
Mataz was reportedly earning around R30 000 a month on Radio 5, this at the time the rand was a strong currency.
The year before his deportation, Mataz had purchased a house in Northcliff Hills valued at R1,6 million. Most, if not all his possessions were forfeited on his deportation.
As part of the generation that grew up with an admiration of Mataz, Sbu reminded his followers and fans that the velvety voiced Tich was responsible for the state of South African TV as many of the new breed of South African TV and radio presenters were keen imitators of his style.
a�?I am honoured to be in the presence of greatness. Most of us South African broadcasters come from the school of this man.A� He made us want to be better. He made us want to be successful.a�?
a�?With this post I want to honour, pay homage & respect to the legendary Tich Mataz. You inspired a generation of DJs, presenters, broadcasters to not just settle for being talent become BUSINESS people,a�? the DJ posted.
Online Reporter