Durban – The laughter that once echoed through the homes of South Africans, courtesy of the comedic duo KwaNjomane, has been replaced by a bitter silence. A family feud has erupted, casting a shadow over the once-jovial partnership, with accusations of financial impropriety and a breakdown in communication.
At the heart of the dispute is a clash between Smangele Mhlongo, better known as MakaChicken, or Chicken's Mother and her son, Sibonelo "Chicken" Mhlongo. The mother-son duo, who gained fame for their hilarious online skits and videos, are now embroiled in a bitter dispute over the earnings from their popular YouTube channel.
MakaChicken, who has also established herself as a traditional healer, claims that her son has been disrespectful and has been withholding financial benefits from her.
"Chicken has been very disrespectful," MakaChicken revealed, her voice laced with a mixture of disappointment and hurt. "My mistake was asking about the money we make from KwaNjomane on YouTube. He shut me down and said that since I'm working now, he's the one who will be eating from KwaNjomane and he won't give me anything."
The accusation of financial impropriety has caught the KwaNjomane fanbase, raising questions about the transparency and fairness of the partnership.
"Secondly, he asked why I wanted the money from KwaNjomane when I'm employed," MakaChicken continued, her voice growing more strained. "I told him that our agreement was that our company is for both of us, so I should benefit from it."
The rift between mother and son seems to have deepened over time, with MakaChicken expressing her hurt over the lack of support from her son, even in the most basic of needs.
"What really hurt me was that I came home and couldn't even afford to pay for DStv, and I had to pay for it myself. When I asked him, he insulted me with every insult you can think of," MakaChicken revealed, her voice trembling with emotion.
The accusations of disrespect and financial exploitation have cast a dark cloud over the once-joyful partnership. MakaChicken claims that her son's disrespectful behaviour has become a recurring pattern, pushing her to the brink of her patience.
"Another thing that really upset me is that when we argue, he runs away to my room," MakaChicken shared, her voice filled with frustration. "I'm talking to you now, and he's sitting in my room, people we don't even greet when we meet. When we fight, he's used to coming back to apologize and say he was making content for Facebook."
The conflict has reached a point where MakaChicken feels she can no longer tolerate her son's actions.
"I'm tired of him. He's playing with my life. My life can't be content, it's enough. I'll love him from afar, he can continue doing his thing because he's also eating the money from our KwaNjomane page with his girlfriend," MakaChicken concluded, her voice heavy with disappointment.
The silence from Chicken, who declined to comment on the matter, only serves to deepen the mystery surrounding the dispute. His refusal to address the accusations has fuelled speculation and fuelled the flames of the public debate.
