By Seleoe Nonyane
Two local businesses that had booked Zodwa Wabantu to perform at their respective clubs this past weekend have been left licking their wounds after the South African entertainer was barred from entering the country at the eleventh hour.
Zodwa Wabantu is a South African based exotic dancer who was scheduled to perform at Star Nightclub on August 4 2023 and at Elibo Guest House the following day.
However, a letter believed to be from local government, chieftainship, home affairs and police minister Lebona Lephema dated August 2 2023 informed the hosting guest house that Zodwa would be denied entry into the country.
The letter read: “Zodwa is known to perform without wearing anything decent in public, conduct which amounts to public indecency
“In terms of Penal Code Act 2010, Section 56 thereof, a person who creates or take steps in any indecent spectacle or performance, or who does in public or private any indecent act which is calculated to offend any reasonable member of the public, commits a crime.”
Commenting on the matter, the Elibo Guest House manager Mpho Molefe told this publication this week that the establishment had lost a lot of money in preparation for the show as a result of the cancellation of Zodwa’s performance.
Molefe said incurred expenses include stocking up on food and beverages, and engaging security and parking marshals.
“We feel we should have been consulted first before denying Zodwa entry into the country so we could make proper arrangements on her outfit. We never received the letter but only saw it doing the rounds on social media.
“We are in talks with the government to explore avenues for her to be allowed into the country without breaking any laws. She was already aware that she could only come to Lesotho on condition that she dressed in a manner that would not be viewed as going against the laws of the country.
“The fact that the government is willing to listen to us is a promising sign,” she said.
Molefe’s sentiments were echoed by Star Nightclub owner Lepolesa Mphoso, who lamented that the banning of Zodwa was a huge blow to his business.
Mphoso went on to describe denying the dancer entry into the country as ‘unfair’.
He said the government should have at least warned them in time, adding that the nightclub had vigorously advertised the event.
Mphoso was also optimistic that the government will change its mind and allow Zodwa entry.
In another development, local government, chieftainship, police and home affairs principal secretary Tumelo Raboletsi, disowned the letter that was circulating on social media. “I know nothing about the letter which was doing rounds on social media. I never got to see it. What I know is the ministry did write a letter through the minister, but I haven’t seen it either,” he said.
