The North West police have initiated a manhunt following an incident of property damage that occurred early on Friday, December 27, at Makwassie Stadium.
Reports indicate that the crowd at the Annual Fun Games and Music Festival became enraged when the popular musician Makhadzi failed to appear, leading to a destructive outburst. The stage and other equipment were set on fire, causing damages estimated at around R3 million.
Makhadzi later explained that she did not attend the event due to the promoter’s failure to settle the full payment. In a statement, Makhadzi clarified that her entertainment company had agreed on a performance fee of R180,000 with the festival promoter, Ismael.
A contract was signed on November 19, 2024, stipulating that a 50% deposit must be paid before any promotional activities, and the full payment should be made at least 14 days before the event.
Although the promoter paid the deposit and an additional R3,000 for a promotional video, the balance was not paid as agreed.
Makhadzi emphasized that she and her team were informed of events only after confirming that all payments had been made. As the remaining payment was not received within the required time frame, she could not perform. She apologized to her fans in Makwasa and expressed her hope to visit them soon.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and no arrests have been made so far. Authorities have urged anyone with information to contact the Makwassie Station Commander, Capt. Bereng Hlasa, at 082 575 8377, or the South African Police Service Crime Stop line at 08600 10111. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the MySAPS App.