Award-winning South African musician Nathi Mankayi has cancelled his highly anticipated "Silwa Nemimoya Picnic" concert in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, due to alleged demands for a "protection fee".
The 41-year-old singer, known for hits like "Nomvula," expressed his disappointment, revealing that the decision to cancel the 5 October show was made after his promoter received calls demanding a percentage of the concert's proceeds from individuals claiming to offer "protection".
"The promoter I had partnered with received phone calls from people saying they wanted money, a certain percentage from the show. I then told the promoter it was better we stopped planning the show," he added.
This incident isn't an isolated case; it highlights a growing concern within the South African entertainment industry. Mankayi's decision to cancel, despite the financial implications, underscores the serious risks artists face when performing in areas where extortion is prevalent. He stated that while the Eastern Cape is his home, he won't return until the issue is resolved.
"I don’t want to lie, as much as Eastern Cape is home for me, if such things are going to happen, I’d rather not go home. Anyone else would’ve made the same decision. I’m not saying I won’t go there forever; I’m just saying I’ll go there when the time is right," he said.
The cancellation has prompted a wider discussion about the impact of extortion on the arts and entertainment sector. Calvin Rafadi, a certified forensic investigator, points out that this criminal activity extends far beyond artists and event organisers.
"If there was no contract between the parties and these people are demanding money, then it’s extortion. This affects the economy, the tourism industry and the arts industry. This essentially affects the whole of South Africa. If we put it in words, we are held at ransom as a country," Rafadi stated.
He emphasised the broader societal impact, highlighting how such crimes prevent communities from enjoying events and negatively affect the economy.
The incident has also prompted a response from law enforcement. Lieutenant-Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa, Eastern Cape police spokeswoman, confirmed that a task team is actively addressing extortion issues in the region.
"The provincial commissioner of the Eastern Cape, Lieutenant-General Nomthetheleli Mene, launched the Eastern Cape SAPS Extortion Hotline number. The extortion hotline number is 082 387 1561. SAPS encourages the public to make use of the hotline. If the public is reluctant to open criminal cases, they're enticing the crime to continue unabated.
"There's a task team that is established in Mthatha to assist in the fight against extortion. Cases of extortion are investigated by the Provincial Organised Crime Unit in the province, which has extensive knowledge and experience in forensic investigation," Mawisa explained.
She urged the public to utilise the hotline and report such incidents to aid in investigations.
Despite the setback, Mankayi remains optimistic about his "Imimoya" album tour. The show, originally scheduled for Mthatha, has been relocated to Gqeberha on 19 October at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
"We started in KZN, the second show was in Cape Town and this one is in Gqeberha. The way people are receiving this tour, they love it. KZN didn’t have a lot of people, but people came out in numbers in Cape Town. Now people are noticing that this concert is happening. People from Gqeberha should expect to heal. I believe this album has something that makes you feel alive and hopeful," he said.
He also shared the personal significance of the album, explaining that it helped him cope with difficult times, including the loss of his parents and the challenges he faced after releasing his previous album, "Phupha Labantu," in 2018.
"I wrote the song because after I did Phupha Labantu in 2018. It was hard for me to go to studio, everything I tried was hard. Then Covid-19 hit, and I lost my parents. It was a lot at the time. Then I wrote Imimoya, it helped me deal with what I was going through at the time. When people listen to the album, they’ll realise that artists also go through problems. We are normal people and people will heal," Mankayi shared.
The incident involving Nathi Mankayi underscores the urgent need to address the issue of extortion in the Eastern Cape and across South Africa. The cancellation of his concert highlights the vulnerability of artists and the wider impact of this crime on the creative industry and the economy.
