Legend Manqele: BarLeader TV production company shuttered, Bonang Matheba 'unprofessional' and owed nothing, Mohale Motaung not paid for Showmax wedding special after 'certain things went down at M-Net' - report

by Thinus Ferreira

Legend Manqele has been forced to shut down his production banner BarLeader TV, says he owes Bonang Matheba nothing who is allegedly "unprofessional" and that her reality show Being Bonang was cancelled over her own "bad behaviour", and that Mohale Motaung is also owed no money and couldn't be paid after "certain things went down at M-Net" following a disastrous Showmax wedding special with Somizi Mhlongo.

In an interview with City Press newspaper (paywall), the controversial TV producer Legend Manqele says he was forced to shut down his BarLeader TV production company following reputation damage and that he and his production company was damaged by "badly managed and badly behaved talent".

Legend Manqele claims that Bonang Matheba's reality show Being Bonang for M-Net's canned 1Magic TV channel on DStv was cancelled due to her "bad behaviour", that she's "unprofessional" and that BarLeader TV doesn't owe her any money. 

He says Bonang Matheba "was paid for her show. At times, she was paid late or the following month because she wouldn't arrive to shoots, or we would find ourselves on set and she wasn't there. Or we had to extend our hours into the night because she forgot. She wasn't being managed well and she wasn't necessarily professional".

BarLeader TV took over the production of the reality show Living the Dream with Somizi from its second season for M-Net's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) TV channel. 

That was followed by the tacky reality TV wedding series, Somizi & Mohale: The Union which was filmed for MultiChoice's Showmax video streamer in 2020. 

After the couple's relationship soured, leaked production recordings shocked the industry and the public in which Mohale Motaung accused Somizi Mhlongo of alleged violent physical abuse and of having threatened to kill him with a kitchen knife.

Instead of paying the couple their R1.5 million for Somizi & Mohale: The Union, Legend Manqele says he paid the South African Revenue Service (SARS) since Somizi Mhlongo owed SARS money. Since BarLeader TV closed down and the payment agreement was with SARS, Legend Manqele says he doesn't owe Somizi Mhlongo money.

Legend Manqele says BarLeader TV was owed money by M-Net for Showmax's Somizi & Mohale: The Union but didn't get it "because certain things went down at M-Net". 

Producer and director Legend Manqele again accused of allegedly stealing a TV show, says 'I've never stolen a show in my life' as The Khuzani Bo! show with Khuzani Mpungose switches from MultiChoice to SABC1.

by Thinus Ferreira

The director and producer Legend Manqele has once again been accused of allegedly stealing a TV show and a TV show idea and on Thursday afternoon he once again denied the creative concept theft allegations, saying "I've never stolen a show in my life".

Legend Manqele responded after new allegations of TV show content theft. 

This time Khuzani Mpungose and Legend Manqele are embroiled in a dispute with a producer over the ownership of the Maskandi artist's upcoming reality show, The Khuzani Bo! show that suddenly switched from MultiChoice to SABC1.

Musa Buthelezi, a producer from KwaZulu-Natal, is accusing Legend Manqele and Khuzani Mpungose of allegedly stealing his show idea and taking it to the South African public broadcaster's SABC1 channel without his consent.

Musa Buthelezi told tabloid newspapers that Khuzani Mpungose signed a letter of intent to produce a reality show about himself with Musa Buthelezi's company PSG.

Musa Buthelezi says he approached MultiChoice for the show idea with the letter of intent that Khuzani Mpungose signed, with MultiChoice that invited him to make presentations. 

The letter of intent reads: "This letter grants producers permission to use the actor and the actor's name and licences in the pre-development of this project and on the final production from the date of the signing of this letter until post-production".

Musa Buthelezi was then shocked to discover that Legend Manqele's production company, BarLeader TV, that also produced Living the Dream with Somizi for Showmax, would be doing a reality show with Khuzani Mpungose for SABC1, with Legend Manqele attached as the producer.

Gugu Ntuli, SABC spokesperson, in a statement, says that "The Khuzani Bo! show has been licenced to SABC1 by the BarLeader TV productions. SABC1 is not aware of the allegations made by Musa Buthelezi regarding the ownership of the concept. Musa Buthelezi is welcome to take the matter up with The BarLeader TV productions".

In 2020 Hastings Moeng alleged that the concept for the show Dinner at Somizi's on M-Net's 1Magic (DStv 103) was stolen from him by Legend Manqele and BarLeader TV. 

MultiChoice and BarLeader TV were served with letters of demand after Hastings Moeng, Legend Manqele and MultiChoice failed to reach an agreement and plans for a second season of the show was then put on hold.

The case remains unresolved with no further statement that has been made by MultiChoice about Dinner at Somizi's.

As Somizi Mhlongo abuse allegations swirl, Mzansi Magic doesn't tell DStv viewers on-screen about his upcoming absence as Idols judge; Mohale Motaung insists he 'experienced abuse both physical and psychological'.

by Thinus Ferreira

On Sunday, M-Net's Mzansi Magic channel decided not tell DStv subscribers watching Idols that caustic judge Somizi Mhlongo, mired in violent physical abuse allegations, is no longer going to be on the show for the time being, while his former lover Mohale Motaung once again reiterating that he did experience physical and psychological abuse at the hands of Somizi.

MultiChoice and M-Net released a statement on Friday saying that the controversial socialite will "take some time off" from the latest 17th season of Idols.

TVwithThinus asked Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) on Friday how it would tell viewers watching on Sunday evening that Somizi Mhlongo will still be seen for a few of the pre-recorded episodes in the [SIC] Entertainment-produced reality series but not in any newly-filmed episodes.

Mzansi Magic didn't respond with any answer. 

On Sunday evening Mzansi Magic didn't tell viewers about Somizi Mhlongo's upcoming absence from Idols and decided to only flash a quick "Please note that this episode is pre-recorded" as an on-screen corner-card.

The latest controversy comes after the scandal-riddled star is once again in the tabloid headlines following leaked BarLeaderTV production recordings from his now-estranged lover, Mohale Motaung.

Mohale Motaung claims that Somizi Mhlongo broke his ribs and almost knocked out teeth in a violent physical abuse incident in 2020; allegedly threatened Mohale with a kitchen knife, saying he would kill them both; and allegedly even tried to drive him off the road after an Idols afterparty.

Mohale Motaung and Somizi Mhlongo's tempestuous relationship has been marred by persistent rumours of infidelity and breakup ever since their over-the-top and tacky reality TV wedding series, Somizi & Mohale: The Union that was filmed for MultiChoice's Showmax video streamer in 2020.

Somizi Mhlongo and MultiChoice are also mired in drama over allegations that he allegedly stole and plagiarised the idea for the Dinner at Somizi's TV series from another creative, Hastings Moeng.

Somizi Mhlongo in a statement posted on his Instagram account on Friday morning, said the public has now become "audience to what has sadly become a breakup between two people laced by defamation, false but very serious accusations and interference from supposedly close and reliable sources".

He said "I have never been physically or knowingly abusive towards my estranged husband. I vehemently deny the allegations of criminal acts towards him and would like to clear my name of the defamation".

Mohale Motaung in a new statement on Saturday, about the leaked BarLeader TV recordings that were made in conversation with a producer of Living the Dream with Somizi, says "I was laying case to reason why I would not want the details of our divorce to be used in the upcoming season of the reality show as this would affect the complete truth and furthermore, did not want the details thereof to be used for financial gain".

Mohale Motaung reiterated the alleged abuse he suffered from Somizi Mohale, saying "I did, in fact, experience abuse at the hands of my estranged husband, both physical and psychological. It is not my wish to seesaw my experience against his as he only has his conscience to reckon with".

In January this year the South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) slammed Somizi Mhlongo in a strongly-worded statement over his attacks on and insults levelled against journalists.

Somizi attacked journalists after reports about his alleged infidelity and crumbling relationship and a legal battle over the canned Dinner at Somizi's TV show, after he was approached for comment but declined to comment.

SANEF said that Somizi's "actions have aggravated what is already a hostile working environment, especially for women journalists. This is a direct attack on media freedom in the country. Worldwide similar attacks are being meted out on journalists with the intent to silence their voices, especially that of women and the stories they tell."

"SANEF calls on Somizi Mhlongo to unreservedly apologise to these journalists and the public on all his social platforms for his unbecoming behaviour. He must call on his followers to stop harassing and intimidating them. Further, we call on the journalists to lay charges of intimidation and for MultiChoice to officially distance themselves from Mhlongo's comments."

ALSO READ: Somizi Mhlongo gone from Idols for now, exits Idols judge seat shortly after Metro FM gig following serious allegations of violent physical abuse.

ALSO READ: Somizi Mhlongo out at SABC's Metro FM after serious allegations of violent physical abuse, Idols role on M-Net's Mzansi Magic in jeopardy.

ALSO READ: In shocking leaked production recordings reality star Mohale Motaung accuses Idols judge Somizi Mhlongo of alleged violent physical abuse: 'Threatened to kill me with a kitchen knife'.