Make-up artist claims Babes Wodumo owes her

Gqom superstar Babes Wodumo, real name Bongekile Simelane, is being accused of failing to pay her make-up artist, Pearl Mhlongo (22) of Pearlisiwe Make-Up and Skincare from Durban a measly R1 200. Mhlongo said it was for a job she did in 2021

ZiMoja is in possession of the recent conversation between Babes Wodumo’s sister and manager, Nondumiso Simelane, promising to pay through a pay wallet. “I was introduced to Babes Wodumo through her friend who happened to be my client. I was invited by a friend to come and do her make-up and when I got there, I found Babes Wodumo, who also requested that I do her face. I did the job and she paid me in cash. That is when I became her make-up artist. She would invite me over to her house in Westville to come and do her face and she would pay me cash,” she said.

Mhlongo said that the reason Babes Wodumo failed to pay her on the day she did her make-up was because there was no one to drive her car to a nearby mall. “Babes invited me to come do her face. I went there and did my thing and left without being paid as she promised to pay the next day because she wanted me to come back again to do her face again,” Mhlongo said, adding that, ‘she is always coming up with excuses. I’m not looking for fame or want to destroy her. All I want is my money for the service rendered. I have been quiet about this for two years. I don’t understand how is she failing to pay me R1 200 when she gets gigs. I don’t understand. I think she is taking advantage because I’m a young woman who is trying to run her make-up business. All I want is my money,” she said

Attempts to get a comment from Babes proved fruitless as she hung up when she was quizzed about outstanding debt. Her manager and older sister, Nondumiso, said: “Babes doesn’t owe the young lady but the late Sthembile (Former PA) is the one who owes the young lady. I tried to reason with the mother of the young lady. She has been causing her drama on social media telling people she has been communicating with Babes since 2021. Mind you Babes and I had no idea. When I try and reason with the angry mom and ask her for proof of a convo from 2021 with any member of our team, she doesn’t send it. Instead, she demands R1 200 with threats and insults. Can you pay anyone without any proof of an agreed amount?

If she carries on wanting to trend by trashing Babes’ name when she is innocent, it’s okay but she must know that such is a crime. Babes have been through so much and just because she saw Babes trending because of her breath-taking performance, she thinks, ‘Oh well let me crush and make her trend badly… that’s on her,” she said. Her sister is demanding proof. “She knows that it’s a lie, Babes does book appointments. The PA does and it’s the PA who pays. With proof, trust me, I would have just paid her to get her off our backs and move on. Her threats are uncalled for,” she said.