The Malibongwe Arts Festival’s ‘Tribute to Women’ concert has decided to remove musician Kelly Khumalo from its lineup.
Here’s why organisers dropped Kelly Khumalo from ‘Tribute to Women’ concert
The concert, scheduled for Saturday, 12 August 2023, at the Emmarentia Botanical Gardens in Johannesburg, Gauteng, will showcase an array of talented artists, including Mafikizolo, Nkosazana Daughter, Amanda Black, Kabza Da Small, Sjava, Pabi Cooper, and more.
However, the decision to drop Kelly Khumalo comes in light of recent developments in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, where she has been linked to one of the five accused on trial.
Respecting Legal Processes: Innocent Until Proven Otherwise
In a statement released on Tuesday, event organisers emphasised their respect for the legal processes and highlighted that Khumalo is considered innocent until proven otherwise.
Nonetheless, the management of the festival made the difficult decision to relieve her from her performance obligations to allow her and her team sufficient time to address the issues arising from the ongoing court proceedings.
The decision to remove Khumalo from the lineup was prompted by concerns raised by festival patrons and comments on social media platforms.
Although the organisers stress their commitment to due process and presumption of innocence, they also have a responsibility to safeguard the festival’s integrity and reputation.
“In the interest of safeguarding our festival, management has taken the decision to relieve Ms Khumalo of her obligations to perform at our festival this year to afford her and her team the time they require to deal with the issues emanating from the current court proceedings,” the statement reads.
Read the full statement below:
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Kelly Khumalo’s Connection to the Senzo Meyiwa Murder Trial
Khumalo’s alleged association with the several suspects accused of killing the late soccer star has drawn significant attention during the murder trial proceedings.
Colonel Lambertus Steyn, the state’s fourth witness, disclosed in court that Kelly had made contact with one of the five accused on trial, Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli, on two occasions: on 2 August 2023 at 22:40 and again on 15 October 2014, a little over a week before Meyiwa was gunned down in her mother’s home.
Steyn revealed that the investigations team had obtained evidence confirming the ownership of the phone numbers in question, linking them to Kelly Khumalo and Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli.
Khumalo has yet to comment on the trial’s developments.