Reality TV star and polygamist Musa Mseleku is being accused of breaking a promise to his former colleagues, Zakhele Gumede and Musa Ntsebesha, who claim he owes them R200 000.
The pair claim they played a crucial role in helping Mseleku establish his production company and the popular reality show “UThando Nes’thembu”.
The show, which has aired on Mzansi Magic for seven seasons, offers viewers an inside look at Mseleku's life as a polygamist and the dynamics within his family.
Despite their contributions, they say they have not been compensated for their efforts.
In an interview on the “Daily Reports Platform Podcast”, Ntsebesha said: “Mseleku told me about his idea for ‘UThando Nes’thembu’ but he was struggling to get it off the ground.
“He didn’t have the right skills to make it a reality show, so he asked me to assist him.”
Ntsebesha added that Mseleku promised them 2% shares in his production company, “Thanks Ma”, as part of the deal.
Ntsebesha went on to say that he was heavily involved in the project from the start, even writing the first season and creating the trailer.
"The first shoot was MaCele’s birthday in Port Shepstone. Mseleku promised us written contracts from his lawyers to detail the terms of our agreement,” he recalled.
The problems reportedly started after the presentation to M-Net, which was well-received.
Ntsebesha said: “We were successful. M-Net approved seasons 1 and 2, and they told us to come back to Johannesburg to sign the deal. But that’s when Mseleku shut us out.”
According to Ntsebesha, Mseleku went to sign the deal with M-Net alone, leaving him and Gumede behind.
“After that, he never spoke about the deal again. We were completely left out, even though we had invested so much time and effort,” he said.
Despite being promised 2% shares, Ntsebesha and Gumede say they never received any of the money or ownership they were owed.
Gumede confirmed the allegations.
“I was there, and it’s all true. Mseleku exploited us,” he said.
Mseleku has yet to respond to the allegations.