Ayanda Ncwane accused of exploiting gospel group ‘Abathandwa’

South African businesswoman and reality TV star Ayanda Ncwane has been accused of allegedly exploiting and not paying royalties of the popular gospel group Abathandwa, for their hit album, Ehhe moya wam.

ABATHANDWA PARTS WAYS WITH NCWANE COMMUNICATIONS

This comes weeks after reports emerged that the group had ditched the entrepreneur’s record label Ncwane Communications for Dondolo Music Productions.

Abathandwa has been reported to have been brought to Ayanda’s record label by her late husband and multi-award-winning gospel star Sifiso Ncwane, shortly before his passing. However, the TV personality was reported to have failed to keep up with the business empire of her late husband.

ABATHANDWA SAYS THEY DID NOT RECEIVE ANY ROYALTIES FOR THEIR MUSIC

Speaking to Sunday World, the gospel stars claimed that one of their songs sold multi-platinum, although Ayanda merely gave them a cent in return for their efforts.

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They further went on to say that despite their hit Umoya Wam dominating the airwaves and social media platforms such as TikTok, their lives have not changed and they are still in a difficult financial situation.

Group leader Percy Nyoka revealed that it’s been six years since they have released their first album under the label, however, they have never signed any contract. He also claimed that Ayanda has not been transparent about how much money they have been making from their music.

“When the working relationship started, it started very well… What we wanted was given to us in terms of having an album. We thought we were going to learn a lot of things because we are quite active, and we are eager to learn. The opportunity we were given did not come with a contract; the conversation was that they wanted to empower us.

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“There was not contracts because Sifiso said he wanted to groom us and when he passed on, his wife took over… She said she will empower us and [that] Ncwane Communications is our home. We did not know that there will be technical implications because she now became this big messiah and saviour of our careers. Someone who is going to take us places. So we believed her and respected her so much,” he said.

Percy claimed that they started encountering problems when they gained recognition and made money.

“Ayanda is the one who knows everything regarding Abathandwa payments and royalties because everything is with her… As I speak to you now as a composer for our songs, I have not received a cent in royalties. I would always ask and that will end up in fights,” he said.

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AYANDA NCWANE ACCUSED OF MANIPULATING AND EXPLOITING ABATHANDWA

Another group member Cebile Shandu added that they are not pleased because Ayanda used her position of power to exploit and take advantage of them.

“We didn’t get anything for our single. She was doing everything for herself and not for the group. We have not built at our homes, we did not do anything because of her and even now she has blocked us,” he said.

According to Sunday World, Ayanda was not available to respond immediately to the accusations made by her former artists.