Amapiano titan Kabza De Small has found himself at the center of controversy following the preview of a new track during a live set in Cape Town on Wednesday, 2 July 2025. What was meant to be an exciting teaser for fans has sparked a wave of backlash and allegations of song theft from long-time collaborator Mdu a.k.a TRP.
During his performance at the grand reopening of Souk nightclub, Kabza unveiled a track reportedly titled “Mabebuza”, featuring Maline Aura and believed to involve Mdu a.k.a TRP. A video of the performance, shared by The Yanos Updates on X (formerly Twitter), ignited a storm online with the caption: “Kabza De Small previews new music with Mdu a.k.a TRP & Maline Aura.”
However, fans were quick to point out that the song had previously been played by Mdu on numerous occasions, raising questions about ownership and credit. One user, wrote, “This is Mdu’s remix, original song by Maline Aura.” Another fan, questioned the platform’s bias: “Where were all these ‘previews new music’ posts when Mdu played this song probably a hundred times?!”
The issue has stirred debate within the Amapiano community, especially among those familiar with the longstanding working relationship between Kabza and Mdu, who have frequently collaborated but also operated independently. Some fans feel Kabza may be taking advantage of Mdu’s creativity without properly attributing the work, while others defend Kabza, suggesting that it may be a joint effort being misunderstood.
This controversy comes at a critical time for Kabza De Small, who is already under pressure to deliver his much-anticipated album Bab’Motha Part 1, now rescheduled for release on 18 July 2025 after multiple delays.
Despite the backlash, Kabza has not issued a public statement addressing the claims or clarifying the track’s origins. Neither Mdu a.k.a TRP nor Maline Aura have commented either, leaving fans speculating on the nature of the collaboration and whether “Mabebuza” will be included in the upcoming project.
Whether a misunderstanding or a deeper rift, the situation has reignited discussions about credit, transparency, and collaboration ethics in the fast-paced world of Amapiano.
thief https://t.co/Yo4yTeYxm1
— Vusi.Mz🦉 (@YouDunnoVusi) July 3, 2025
