Amapiano sensation MaWhoo, real name Thandeka Ngema, is at the centre of a brewing legal battle after allegedly referring to the organisers of the Durban Music Festival as “scammers” in a leaked WhatsApp voice note. The festival, which took place on 3 May 2025 and was headlined by US rap icon Rick Ross, is now linked to controversy that could cost the singer R1 million in damages.
According to Briefly News, MaWhoo was sent a formal letter of demand by Blue Screen Entertainment, the company behind the Durban Music Festival. Gregory Wings, a representative of the company, confirmed they issued the letter to MaWhoo and her company, MaWhoo Entertainment PTY LTD, giving her until Monday, 19 May 2025, to issue a formal retraction and apology.
The controversy stems from a voice note that MaWhoo allegedly sent to a Blue Screen employee who was attempting to sort out a flight scheduling issue. In the note, MaWhoo is heard saying she cannot perform without receiving full payment upfront and questioning the legitimacy of the booking, due to missing business details like “PTY” in the documentation. She went on to allegedly call the organisers “scammers,” a remark that has sparked the current legal showdown.
“The reason I have a manager is because I do not handle such things,” MaWhoo allegedly said in the note. “Tell them that if we do not receive the payment, I cannot perform… You cannot pay the day before [the show], especially if there is an international [artist].”
Blue Screen Entertainment claims MaWhoo was paid in full for her appearance and that her remarks have caused reputational damage. In their letter, head of legal Brian Steel demands a written or recorded voice note apology. Failure to comply, they warn, will lead to a R1 million lawsuit being filed against her.
Interestingly, in 2024, MaWhoo herself threatened legal action against an event organiser who accused her of not showing up for a booking she allegedly accepted.
As the deadline looms, fans and industry insiders are watching closely to see whether MaWhoo will apologise or choose to face the legal consequences. Either way, this case marks another dramatic chapter in the fast-moving career of the “Ngilimele” hitmaker.
