Kabza De Small, who recently impressed audiences at Gold Reef City alongside the Symphonic Orchestra, has blue-ticked another set of fans. The Amapiano sensation left partygoers disappointed after he failed to pitch at a music festival in Johannesburg. Kabza, real name Kabelo Petrus Motha, was booked to perform at the Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival, which was held from June 27 to 29 at Constitution Hill in Joburg. The award-winning artist was billed as the headliner of the event, which featured the likes of Mörda, Sjava, Amagugu Ezwe, and many other acts. Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival is one of Gauteng’s biggest youth arts events, attracting thousands of youths from diverse cultural backgrounds to Constitution Hill to commemorate Youth Month (June). A source told ZiMoja that the MC kept announcing that Kabza was still on his way to the event, giving fans false hope. “They kept announcing that he was coming, but eventually, the crowd got tired of the empty promises, and some people started leaving, ” said the source.
Constitutional Hill venue marketing manager Janine Levinia Muthusamy told ZiMoja that the crowd was left disappointed with Kabza’s no-show on Saturday night. Muthusamy said she tried buying time by calling Kabza’s management, while organisers were busy scrambling around and making phone calls. She said that they eventually had to announce that he was not coming to the disappointment of his fans. “We tried to reach out all night with no response. It was a massive disappointment not to have the contract fulfilled and no communication,” Muthusamy said. She added that just before they closed, they received a text from Kabza’s management team who said that he was delayed from his other event. “They story changed and they claimed that he had a flat tyre,” Muthusamy added. When called, Kabza said he would release a statement in due time. “I can’t comment at the moment; I will release a statement in due time,” he said.