Ngema falls on hard times
2002-11-17 15:21
Johannesburg - The flamboyant and internationally acclaimed playwright and musician, Mbongeni Ngema, is bankrupt.
He was declared insolvent by his landlord and he has since been ducking a number of creditors.
This week the controversial Ngema confirmed his financial woes to City Press. He said he has been declared bankrupt for failing to pay rental for offices he used in Durban while he was working on the Sarafina II musical.
Ngema will be grilled by insolvency officials of the Master of the High Court in Pietermaritzburg next month to ascertain if he has accumulated enough money to settle his debts.
Ngema caused a stir recently with his controversial song denouncing Indians as exploiters of Africans and calling for "brave men to confront Indians". The legality of the song is still the subject of a high court challenge.
Right hand man speaks out
Ngema's previous right hand man, Buhlebemvelo Mtshali, with whom they formed a Zulus-only grouping - Ingobamakhosi - told City Press Ngema was aware of the song's implications but had hoped it would be popular and rescue him from his financial troubles.
"Ngema is also exploiting Africans just like Indians. Look at how he exploited Mpume Sikhakhane (the singer of the popular song Mama kaMdudu). She was never given her royalties. Instead Ngema benefited from the song. Mpume is still living in a mud house," lamented Mtshali.
City Press spoke to several people who alleged Ngema owed them money.
His employees also allege they have not been paid for several months.
It took City Press two days to locate Ngema. Some of his debtors such as Bennie Martin, who is owed R13 000 by Ngema, said the popular singer had been evading him for two months. Ngema hired a bus from Martin for his Jive Madlokovu music tour.
Mtshali said Ngema owed him R10 000 for organising the Jive Madlokovu shows.
Ngema also allegedly owes Kuvin Pillay R10 000 for transporting Ngema's crew to Newcastle last month as part of Ngema's Jive Madlokovu road shows.
Ngema said: "When the department of health decided to stop the project (Sarafina II) following a public outcry over the payment of R14 million, I was left penniless and unable to pay rent for the offices I was using. The landlord and the department of health took me to court in a bid to recover their money. And I was declared insolvent."
Lindiwe Ngcamu, Ngema's secretary and friend from rural Mamba in northern KwaZulu-Natal, said Ngema had betrayed him. "He used to make me work 24 hours a day. He would wake me up at 23:00, but has never paid me anything.
"I had to borrow money from strangers in order to leave Durban and go back home," said Ngcamu.