Zahara's their maid - Sisters believe Nciza is ripping her off
THE family of music sensation Zahara, real name Bulelwa Mkutukana, has laid bare their broken hearts over what they term "trickery" perpetrated on them by her record company and management.
The seven times SA Music Awards (Samas) nominee is contracted to TK Records, co-owned by Thembikosi "TK" Nciza and Sibusiso Leope, aka DJ Sbu.
The Mkutukana family, especially Zahara's siblings Nomonde and Mbangedwa, claim a number of promises that were made to them by the record company have not been fulfilled.
They allege their sister is being treated with disdain by her record company.
They say, among other things, that she is not in control of her finances, still stays in Nciza's home, where she is allegedly treated like a servant, after being promised a house and she sometimes gets so desperate for money that she has to ask her 55-year-old mom for cash for airtime.
Two independent sources, who formerly worked closely with TS Records, confirm that Zahara is often made to perform household chores at the Nciza home.
"What they are doing to that girl is sad. That it involves Nhlanhla (Nciza's musician wife) is even worse," said one source.
The sisters claim that whenever Nciza visits the family, he excludes them and speaks only to their parents who are "functionally illiterate".
He exploits, they allege, their parent's lack of understanding of the dynamics of the the music industry and Zahara's contractual issues in particular.
They say the record label bosses haven't delivered on any of their promises. But they lump all the blame on Nciza, because they say he has visited their home twice and is the liaison between the family and the stable.
"He's deceiving our parents because he knows they are old and not educated.
"He promised to buy a house for Zahara in Joburg, buy my parents a farm and buy two cars for Spinach (Zahara's other stage name) - one to use in Joburg and the other when she is in the Eastern Cape.
"He also promised to build a wall around our family home as he says he is concerned about our sister's safety when she is at home.
"He also promised my parents he would build proper back rooms with ablution facilities, where currently there is an old shack, and pave the yard.
"None of these things have happened," the sisters fume.
They say they believe their baby sister's debut album Loliwe has been such a success that she deserves to be staying at a place of her own by now.
Both Nciza and Leope, who also anchors SABC1's Friends Like These, ignored all attempts to solicit comment from them.
After several attempts to reach them by phone and text message, Sunday World travelled to the Birchwood Hotel in Ekurhuleni, where Zahara was performing on Friday night.
Nciza was present at the event but ignored all attempts by this reporter for an interview in the foyer. The reporter was then barred entry into the event hall. The sisters also say that whenever Zahara flies into East London to visit her home village of Phumlani, her bosses never book a car for her.
They further allege that while Nciza and Leope have bought themselves new cars since Loliwe became a hit, Zahara is still dependent on public transport when at home.
"Before I bought my car, I used to ask my friends to pick her up from the airport," says Nomonde.
"She doesn't even know what her contract entails as she says she has no copy of the agreement.
"I don't even know if she has a bank account of her own."
The modest family home looks spanking new after it got a fresh coat of paint just before the Christmas holidays. But the sisters maintain this was their parents' efforts.
"All Zahara has helped with was to fit a kitchen and wardrobe cabinets in the house," they say.
The figures of Zahara's music sales will become clearer by month-end, when the Recording Industry of South Africa (Risa) releases official numbers.
It is expected she has sold more than 50000 units since her album was released in August last year.
But sales and performance royalties for last October and March this year have been released by the SA Music Rights Organisation and she ought to have something respectable to show for her hard work.
Moreover, Zahara has been a draw-card for outdoor music performance and her infectious popularity has catapulted her into the A-list of live music performers.
TS Management is understood to charge anything between R70000 and R90000 for her services and she headlined espAfrika's world-renowned Cape Town International Jazz Festival last month.
dlaminimd@sundayworld.co.za
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Comments
Bra007
I always knew that Sbu & this guy were playing with Zahara and making her a fool, Sbu even commented on radio that this poor girl didn't have a bank account kanti they are planning to use her...this is so sad, if i was part of her a family i would have laid a criminal charge. this is so wrong, they bought themselves new cars because of Zahara, NO one can deny that Zahara saved this pathetic record label, from now on i hate DJ Sbu and his business partnermazaviro
from the brown dash accident i started hating mzekezeke aka dj sbu & his partner khanda khulu. this guys guys are monsters & my advice is Zahara go to kalawa jazzmee. spikiri i know you can make hits with this girl take her & guide her it sounds like her family needs cash & she does too. zahara i hope you reading this my sister dont stay with those thugs & losers i should say. go where you will grow & see the result of hard work. look @ kalawa jazzmee have you heared anyone left kalawa or they all want to be signed by kalawa, you have the talent to make it @ kalawa jazzmee. imagine you & speedy & professor making a hit with uzonke khona. wake up & make money you live once sister....i'm 100% sure kalawa wont mind to have you on board. concerned fan from cape town........!!!!! much love zahara.mazaviro
Once a gain stop pretending like you love your Artists, what happend to Izinyoka fame, sash, maando, 51 cent , magaiva, kharaz, Mgugu? why cant you let them hava another cd sbu? coz you ripped them off with big head, why did bricks leave? who is next pro kid 4 sure & i will say dankie sani. stop robbing people inst metro paying you enough boza? you abuse power bra & that is a concern trust me, you will be artist less soon...watch the space uzofana no Arthur lol....uyakhinya sbuda voetske nawe Tk khanda khulu.McTyandre
Hey Wena SBU Voetsek Man, Hamba Ms&^u Wakho !!MamDubs
ME TOO,MandisiBrukwe
If the contents of this article are true and correct, shame on the Ncizas and Dj Sbu.BabalwaTambo
I think this is all true,I believe every lil thing that is said here.....remember what happened to Ntando??Happym
Agreed loveyBra007
they are true, the way they dress her says it all, they treat her like slave. they are using herNhloniphokazi
Oi, whoa stop die Lorry! What happened to responsibility here? How old is Zahara? i m a big fan of hers, but i dont think its cool to only blame others for her misery.1. she has no contract or a copy of the contract, why did nt she insist on having this and keeping a copy of her own?
2. She still resides with the Ncizas, i seriously doubt if She packed her bags and left anyone would dare stop her.
3. The sisters who seem to know so much about the legalties and ins and outs of the industry, why oh i ask why; why did nt they advise her from the beginning? Why did nt someone tell and educate Zahara about the things like contracts , royalties, etc etc?
Like i said, i m a fan, but i refuse to understand how throughout the year Zahara just sat there and sang loliwe without finding out how much Loliwe is making for her. Come on, I refuse to blame the management of the Artist, i blame the Artist here.
Even now , Dear Zahara.
Go to the management, Ask for a contract, ask about your share and salary and whatever else that you must get. if they charge 90.000 for an appearance,m girl find out how much can u claim from that 90.000. Wake up girl and stop being their maid, pick yoself up and develop a back bone enough to say no to anything that you havent signed up for.
cocomercedess
Which part about Zahara being illiterate confuses you. How do you expect an illiterate person to behave smart and educated. Wake up!castratorcastro
does that give them the right to exploit her?KhanyisaMvana
Nhloniphokazi, i agree with you, you absolutely have a point let`s not judge Zahara`s a big woman she can stand for herself should the sisters help i believe it`s never too late for whatever she wants to know about her rights she can.I am confused though i am Zahara`s friend on facebook and before the end of last year She posted a photo of a beutiful convertible car and i was one of the people that congraculated her and She never said otherwise.
If these allegations are true i would be so disappointed though and there`s absolutely nothing i can do.
Spinach stand up for your rights.
siphiwomendu
lt us wait for the comment of Zahara herself and take it from there, we need to hear both side of the story. i know many artists had since left that stable due to contractual obligation. if it is true Zahara is a big girl she must show herself exit sooner than before.Rova
If it was Mercades, it's TKz car.EdwinNengovhela
Is not easy. You know you cant just part ways with a signed contract. That is why you sign a contract in the firts place. You need to serve your contract whether is for 5 or 6 years. The only thing we can do as Zahara' supporter is to stop watching Friends like these.Mndebele
@Nhloniphokazi...Can I do a reality check on you? Are you working? How was it like finding your first job or you were handpicked? If not, were you not vulnerable because you were desparate for that first step?People who tried to be smart with record labels they are sitting at home with their demos so please dont give advises where its not your expertise...Zahara is vulnerable she will only be helped by her family,fans and media for now she is a newbie she cant stand for herself.
Mdaa
Whooo you stop the lori, no wonder our artists die poor its bcoz of ppl of ur poor mentality. the sisters have the right to voice thier concerns when Zahara is been abused! How in the world is she still staying with them, she should be having her onw mansion!MzekeloMajokweni
Hi Nhloniphokazi, this girl is a talented artist’s not talented hoodwinks. We all know that it is difficult out there to break into the industry even if you have great talent. This was Zahara's first and great opportunity that she grabbed by both her hands and very aware of the likes of these hoodwink Record companies. She prayed and hoped to be lucky and don't get victimised. Now it is also our responsibility not to turn a blind eye to the cruel people and blame lake of knowledge. Zahara knew she might be taken advantage of, but she at least expected some remuneration. We all know that they were going to crook her anyway, but we also thought that they would have some decency, not doing it so obvious and give her a fair share as she saved their Ass(s). It does not matter how clever you are, these guys are cold and soon they will taste the sourness of their medicine. Zahara has touched and brought hope in a large population of both old and young South Africans. Trust in me I thought TK Records would be clever enough to be descent with this girl as they will expose themselves to their worst nightmare. I guess they were not as smart as I thought. Zahara could have signed all sorts of contracts and still be a victim of the likes. I really hate this thing of blaming the innocent and give the wrong dowers some credit. I even hate those people that will rape a girl and say she was wearing a mini skirt at night walking alone in the dark. “She asked for it or she should have known better” Bull.NellyMamkeli
i must be mistaken bt i thought parents were illiterate not Zahara. take it from me, i knw her in person. she is not illiterate in any way. she is just being herslf. Bulelwa is a down to earth person who as long as i hv knwn her never talks ill of any person. get your facts straight, she has been to University...and dropped out.Thandi_IreneMoikangoa
Shame but i think she is not clued up with this kind of staff contacts,come on hle she needed help but i guess some ppl took advantage of thatBra007
@Nhloniphokazi, she had no say these b***dy b***tches used her, she wanted to be famous. Who knows maybe she knew what was happening, but bullied and do what she was toldThandoJanuary
Whose idea was it to put two women in the same room? I bet TK came with that one all by himself...lol. This must have really irked the Mrs.-who has been churning out disappointment after disappointment in studio-so much that she got worried somebody is out to get her 'rich' husband-a la the fashion attack.The lesson here is very simple, know your rights and education. Otherwise, it's a real shame really-if the rumours are true-or the 'older' sisters are just plain jeolous their little sisi is bringing more bread home.
lizie
BLOOD SUCKER -- AMAQOLA-- INCKUTHU-- IMPOVANE-- AMAPONDO--OHLAKANYANE-- AMAQILIMMMM ZAHARA WT ERE U THINKING UKA NAWE KUSE GOLI YEKA THITHIBALA
HW CN U NT HV UR OWN HOUSE /FLAT WHEN U EARN SO MUCH.
I TOT U WERE XHOSA NJE MFAZI
Mamokete
I don't buy this story,papers want to eat too.As for Zahara sisters next time please protect your sibling from the media vultures,they will twist and misrepresent what you said.KhanyisaMvana
Somehow you are correct media is no child`s play.EdwinNengovhela
Who are you Mamokete, you dont bealive this story? Maybe you are one of Sbu gf. This is not funny. The poor girl came to Gauteng to work just like you idiot, but some f#%^^$ morons are trying to rape here spiritually. Only God will judge them. I hope they die in hell.Nnananyana
Mamokete is an imbecile that hardly believes anything in the world. And she likes to read and comment shame.Sguveve
There's no smoke without fire wena. Wake up and smell the roses. Sbu and Grootkop were afforded an opportunity to respond did they? You seem to be the only one who doesn't know that their stable was undergoing postmortem before ZaharaBra007
hayi suka wena usho ngoba kade ungaboni ukuthi sonke lesi sikhathi bamenza isilima? Zahara's dress sense sucks yet her madam is a designer and dresses so elegant, they bought clothes for her koAckermans!!! nxTumza-T
Hhahahhaah!!! #deathByAckermans#Killer!!
ThibozaKambelesa
Illitteracy is our worst enemy @nhloniphokazi please....Sthiza774
Just to whom did Zahara complain to? Talent alone did not make Zahara a star, do you guys have any idea how much record companies invest in to make hits? i think this is just a smear campaign to discredit TS Records, Zahara is a grown a** woman, she can take care of herself, she can make her own decisions that's including the person responsible for her affairs. As for the journo who wrote the story, i think twice before believing whatever he writes, for both sides of the story, read Sunday Sun, which usually does not use "undisclosed sources"Happym
People are warned not to sign anything they don`t understand. She decided to go with TK and Nhlanhla. If yu are not happy my dear Please walk away from them and pay the prise for believing in them. ITS NEVER TOO LATE. Stand up for yourself and do the right thing or else Mommy will continue giving you air time money. I wonder what her sisters are doing with their lives..... None the less I love your music, bought the cd and will continue to love you as long as you sing my love. Dont be like Tha......a . Ndiza!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Sguveve
@STHIZA774Zahara does not have to complain to anyone. If there's abuse, poeple should act upon it without waiting for the victim to cry. Evil prevails when people like you are standing idle waiting to see evidence of abuse. The sisters don't have a reason to lie about this and unnamed sources used to work for the stable. So do you want them to give you their id's, addresses, etc. I suspect that you are either SBU or TK, or their sidekick. You can't fool us.
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