Faceless accusers point fingers at promoter

Linda Mashamaite promised locals a spectacular concert featuring the big guns of the music industry at the Mbombela Year End Celebration. Internationally acclaimed DJ Black Coffee was to perform, but he did not show up.

Dodgy payer? Linda Mashamiate denies all accusations

KABOKWENI – Local deejays and promotions women claim a local music promoter did not pay them for services rendered over the festive season.

Yet not one of these accusers were prepared to put their name on record. Neither has the promoter faced any civil claims in court. Mashamaite has denied all allegations and accusations and assured Mpumalanga News that all the payments he was responsible for have been settled.

DJ Black Coffee who was billed to perform in Kabokweni.

Two promoters and other local DJs, who asked to remain anonymous, alleged they were approached by Mashamaite and are fed up because he constantly made false promises to meet up with them. One said, “I have been warned several times by people not to trust Linda, but because of the respect I have for him, I decided to be part of the event promoting liquor brands on the evening of December 17, 2016. He gave us the runaround even after promising to pay up before Christmas”. Another local DJ revealed that the organiser did not pay him for three gigs last year.

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Mashamaite was called for clarity on the matter. According to him, DJ Tira, Big Nuz and all local acts were paid. “I have settled all payments with the artists that were on the line-up except for promoters who are supposed to be paid by Heineken, as per agreement. Why do people have to run to the newspapers? As far as I know, all is well and from my side, I do not owe anybody,” he stated.

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Celani Dube of Heineken, refuted that there was an agreement to pay promoters. “We were sponsors of the VIP section and what we had was branding and drinks. Nothing else was agreed upon,” said Dube.

Linda Mashamiate’s response:
“I am saying it again, I have paid everyone including local DJs. The only person I did not pay was the one who did not play a set on stage as agreed. I do not want this to impact negatively on me as I am also building a brand. If I did not pay you, then it means you are one of the people who asked to be part of the line-up to gain exposure. This is not good because my sponsors will not be pleased reading such about me. So in future, nobody should blame me when I don’t use the services of locals.”