Babes Wodumo’s manager slams fake rumours by fraudulent promoters
The Manager of Singer Babes Wodumo has finally spoken out about the allegations that she and Naledi Aphiwe Myongwane are facing the long arm of the law.
This follows allegations that they failed to perform at the Action Bar in Shakaskraal, KwaDukuza, on two separate occasions despite being paid in advance.
According to Nondumiso Simelane who is the manager and sister to Babes Wodumo whose real name is Bongekile Simelane and Naledi were initially booked for an event on 2 May this year but failed to show up is not true.
“Have you noticed that instead of asking questions, they just post? These venue owners are being robbed by promoters (middlemen), and then they post online because the promoter washes their hands of it and says, ‘I don’t know.
“Babes and Naledi had the same problem where the owner sent money to their promoter, but the promoter paid peanuts to the artists. Now, were they supposed to go when the money was less than the deposit and incomplete? Why doesn’t he show the proofs of payment (POPs) so we can see which account it went into before posting? Number two, there is no suing us here,” she said
Nondumiso said she keep saying that in this industry, they have drilled it into their heads that it’s a man’s world.
“Now, because we are women, you think everyone gets paid through sex? Stop this behavior of yours. I am not blaming you venue owners because you don’t know you are being played by these scammers. I have told you guys time and time again that I can track down fake accounts on social media and hunt you down.
“I have already had a bunch of people arrested because we even catch you at work, and you just turn into a drenched chicken [helpless/cowardly]. I found one person, and it turned out to be one of the famous promoters here in Durban. The comment was, ‘Babes is being controlled by her sister, why can’t so-and-so be the manager?’ and it turned out so-and-so was the one who made the fake account. I am tired of these promoters and stage managers who always want to bring us down just because we are females. It needs to stop. We are also at work, we are not your prostitutes,” she said.
According to the documents, the artists are required to pay back their booking fees plus the expenses incurred while planning for their appearance.
The documents reveal that Naledi had charged R30,000 for the gig, while Babes Wodumo was booked for R16,000.
Event coordinator and venue owner, Johnson Govender said that while the matter was now with his lawyers, all he wants was his money back from the musicians.
“They have not responded to the papers sent to them. Naledi Aphiwe has returned R25,000, but I want the remaining balance. I also want compensation for everything I went through planning this event twice only for them not to show up. Contact my lawyers, they will assist you with this matter,” said an audibly frustrated Govender.
