‘Public figure’ Zandie Khumalo accused of scamming businessman

Musician Zandie Khumalo is in the spotlight again after hogging headlines in July this year as a State witness in the rebooted Senzo Meyiwa murder trial.

According to Sunday World, the Ikhwela singer and her husband, Mhlonishwa “Mhlo” Gumede, are accused of swindling a businessman named Sabelo Nhlabathi – who owns Paradise Cove Pub and Grill in Barberton, Mpumalanga.

PUB OWNER SAYS ZANDIE AND HER HUSBAND OWE HIM
According to the businessman, he had booked Zandie (the sister of singer Kelly Khumalo) for R40 000 to perform at his establishment. He said he further gave her R3 000 for accommodation and ensured she and her husband – who is also her manager – were chauffeured to the venue.

However, mid-performance, Mhlo reportedly hopped onto the stage to speak to Zandie before approaching Sabelo to communicate that they had an emergency. The couple reportedly had to rush back home because there was something wrong with the children.

Sabelo claims that they asked him for a R3 000 loan, saying they’d pay him back the following day.

“I then asked my daughter to transfer money.

“I explained to her they said they had an emergency with the kids at home and needed the money urgently,” he said.

FAKE PAYMENT
The pub owner alleged that after several days, the couple had not paid him. When the approached them, he said they sent him a fake bank payment as proof.

Gumede sent me proof of payment via Whatsapp.

“I realised later that it was fake because the money did not reflect into my account,” Nhlabathi said.

“When I confronted them about this fake proof of payment, Gumede immediately deleted it from our Whatsapp chats,” he said.”

Zandie and her husband reportedly hurled insults at Sabelo when he confronted them.

Asked about the allegations, Mhlo told Sunday World that he did not be pay Sabelo because he threatened him with violence.