Maskandi star ‘dumps’ gig for Metro FM Awards

MASKANDI star Mthandeni SK is in big trouble and this time, it’s not a joke!

The Gucci hitmaker, whose real name is Mthandeni Manqele, is facing serious heat from event organisers after he allegedly failed to show up for a big performance in Durban, KZN.

Blue Screen Entertainment said they’re planning to take legal action after Mthandeni was a no-show at the Durban Music Festival held on Saturday, 3 May at Moses Mabhida Stadium, where US rapper Rick Ross was the headline act.

The organisers claimed that they paid the star R40 000. This was a R20 000 deposit when the deal was signed and the rest a day before the show.

However, Mthandeni instead performed at the Metro FM Music Awards in Mbombela, Mpumalanga on the very same night.

A letter of demand dated 16 May, seen by the SunTeam, lays it all out.

“Our company compensated Mthandeni SK with R40 000 in accordance with a signed contract for the Durban Music Festival scheduled on May 3, 2025. Unfortunately, instead of honouring this commitment, Mthandeni SK chose to perform at the Metro FM Awards on the same evening without notifying us of his absence,” reads part of the statement.

The company said they tried to resolve the matter with Mthandeni’s team but received shocking answers.

“Upon confronting Mthandeni SK management about this breach of contract, his manager explained that they were unable to return the funds immediately, attributing the situation to a supposed scheduling conflict. It was stated that they ‘simply forgot’ to communicate with us,” the letter read.

Even more shocking, the organisers said his manager offered to return only R20 000, claiming Mthandeni made a social media post promoting the event.

“In an attempt to have a quick resolution we agreed, however, as of today, we have yet to receive the adjusted amount we had mutually consented upon.”

But when Daily Sun spoke to his manager Simphiwe Masondo, he denied everything.

“I don’t know anything. I don’t want to repeat one thing. They must relax, there is nothing like that,” he said.