South African Amapiano star Khathutshelo “Inno” Mangolo, popularly known as Murumba Pitch, faced a shocking and humiliating moment during his recent performance in Zimbabwe. What was meant to be a celebratory performance at Julyfest in Kadoma on 18 July 2025, coinciding with his birthday, quickly turned into a nightmare as the crowd booed him off stage and began throwing objects in protest.
In a viral video currently circulating on social media, Murumba Pitch can be seen visibly distressed as he attempts to calm the hostile crowd. The once-cheering audience began hurling projectiles while the artist was mid-performance, forcing him to plead from the stage:
“You guys must stop throwing things on the stage, man. At this point, I don’t even know if I should carry on.”
Despite his attempts to salvage the performance, the situation escalated and he was forced to cut the set short and exit the stage entirely.
The incident shocked fans in South Africa and left many questioning what caused the crowd’s aggressive response. Some speculated that it may be linked to Mangolo’s recent departure from the Murumba Pitch duo to pursue a solo career, suggesting that fans may have been expecting the full act instead of a solo performance. Others believe it may have stemmed from a mismatch in expectations or poor event organization.
Social media users across Mzansi quickly rallied behind the artist, voicing disappointment over how he was treated and even threatening retaliation against Zimbabwean artists who perform in South Africa.
One user wrote, “Very sad behaviour from the crowd 🙃.”
Another added, “He went to the side of the country where they only know “Ola le Ola”.”
Murumba Pitch, who previously moved fans to tears with his soulful performances, has not yet released an official statement following the event. However, the incident has sparked a broader conversation around artist treatment, event management, and respect across borders in the African music industry.
As fans await further clarification, one thing is clear: this incident marks a tough moment in Mangolo’s solo journey, but it also shows the volatile nature of international performance spaces, where even a star can be unexpectedly dimmed.
