The South African maskandi music scene is currently embroiled in a very public and acrimonious dispute between rising star Ntencane (real name Senzo Zondi) and his ex-partner, singer Nombuso Gcabashe, better known as Ms Levels. The conflict, which has spilled onto social media and into the music itself, centres around accusations of Ntencane's failure to adequately support their child.
Ms Levels has publicly accused Ntencane of being a "deadbeat dad," alleging that he fails to meet his financial obligations towards their child, providing only a paltry R1000 per month in support. She questioned his suitability as a father, stating in a video posted on social media: "He is using fame to take advantage of naive girls. He can't keep his zip closed."
She further claimed to have caught him cheating on multiple occasions, citing instances where she discovered evidence of him flirting with other women on his phone.
Speaking to ZiMoja, Ms Levels reiterated her accusations and expressed her frustration.
"I am not scared of him. I can't be chasing a man who makes money to pay a mere R1000 for his child but is always out entertaining different girls and friends," she stated.
She also revealed that Ntencane fathered a child with another woman while they were still together.
"Unfortunately, I can't say her name because I promised to keep her name out of the media. As we speak, he is expecting a child with another lady who called me because she is also frustrated because of his behaviour. The lady told me he is now ignoring her calls," she added.
The conflict has escalated into a full-blown musical battle. It began with Ntencane releasing a song titled "Dear Mawomntanami," where he declared the end of his relationship with Ms Levels. Ms Levels responded with her own diss track, "Dear Baba Womntana," which quickly gained traction on social media. In the song, she directly addresses Ntencane's alleged neglect and his dismissive behaviour when she informed him of her pregnancy.
When contacted for comment, Ntencane declined to engage with the accusations.
"I don't have time to entertain bitterness, I am sure you have better things to report on," he said, effectively refusing to address the serious allegations levelled against him.
His dismissive response only serves to further fuel the controversy and raise questions about his responsibility as a father. The public nature of this dispute, played out through social media and diss tracks, highlights the complexities of relationships in the public eye and the challenges faced by parents navigating separation and co-parenting.
