Five things you don’t know about Mabala Noise owner Reggie Nkabinde

Reggie Nkabinde, the ANC Youth League national treasurer and co-owner of Mabala Noise, has come under fire after EFF leader Julius Malema made claims he benefited from tenders bestowed upon him by Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane. Nkabinde first caught the attention of the press when he threw a lavish 31st birthday bash on the West Rand in 2015. The extravagant party featured celebrities such as Sbu Leope and Isibaya stars Nomzamo Mbatha and Jessica Nkosi. Of the soiree, Nkabinde told City Press it amounted to ‘over R 2 million.’ We’ve rounded up a few facts that have emerged about the Mabala Noise co-owner and CEO.

1. He is a fan of SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng. Speaking to rapper-turned-businessman Slikour, Nkabinde said he was proud of Motsoeneng’s efforts to turn the SABC around by enforcing a 90% local music quota.
2. The flamboyant Nkabinde, who also goes by the moniker ‘Gov’ner’ is known to be a big spender. In the video above he says that Mabala Noise has different divisions and seeks to market and brand their artists, among other things.
3. He has international contacts. On Nasty C, Nkabinde said he would push to establish deals with his international counterparts. This after Nasty C’s deal with Roc Nation fell through. Mabala Noise also brought Chris Brown, Tinashe, Slum Village and Eve for The Mother of All Parties in July this year.
4. Nkabinde favours a gold throne for his office seat. Testament to his love for the finer things in life, he also has an image of former president Nelson Mandela in his office.

5. He is passionate about empowering local artists economically and, in his own words, explains the high salaries the artists of his record label are apparently given. “It takes 30 artists to fill a small club like Taboo, but it takes one artist to fill a stadium … it’s purely because we have not realised that it’s time we can show the world that we can make it.”