Intellectual Property Controversy Surrounds Scorpion Kings’ Event

1 min read
intellectual property event organizing

South African music producers, DJ Maphorisa and Kabza de Small, collectively known as Scorpion Kings, are currently facing legal troubles after being accused of stealing intellectual property. Thabiso Tshabalala, a seasoned event organizer, claims that the Scorpion Kings Live At Sun Arena event is his concept, and that the duo has profited from his idea without permission.

Tshabalala’s Background

As a seasoned professional in the entertainment industry, Tshabalala has organized several successful events, including the One Night With Sjava concert.

Newsletter

Stay Informed • Cape Town

Get breaking news, events, and local stories delivered to your inbox daily. All the news that matters in under 5 minutes.

Join 10,000+ readers
No spam, unsubscribe anytime

Allegations Against Scorpion Kings

Tshabalala alleges that he approached the Scorpion Kings in January 2020 with a proposal to host a show at Sun Bet Arena in Pretoria. According to Tshabalala, the musicians had agreed to equally share the proceeds from the event. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, preparations for the event were halted.

Two years later, Tshabalala discovered that an event with the same name was being held at the same venue on 22 July. DJ Maphorisa and Kabza de Small allegedly ignored Tshabalala’s attempts to communicate for eight months after grossing R3 million from the event.

Response to Allegations

In response to these allegations, Tshabalala’s lawyer sent a letter to the Scorpion Kings, stating that their actions constituted a breach of the verbal agreement made with the DJ duo. The letter demanded payment of R1-million within 14 days; failure to comply would result in a summons being issued.

Additional Legal Troubles

In addition to the intellectual property controversy, DJ Maphorisa is also facing a gender-based violence (GBV) case filed against him by his girlfriend and actress, Thuli Phongolo. The case was postponed to 5 July as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) continues its investigation.

These legal disputes and allegations have cast a shadow over the Scorpion Kings’ career. While the duo navigates the complexities of intellectual property rights and personal allegations, their fans and the general public eagerly await the conclusion of these cases and any potential impacts on their future projects.

Hannah Kriel is a Cape Town-born journalist who chronicles the city’s evolving food scene—from Bo-Kaap spice routes to Constantia vineyards—for local and international outlets. When she’s not interviewing chefs or tracking the harvest on her grandparents’ Stellenbosch farm, you’ll find her surfing the Atlantic breaks she first rode as a schoolgirl.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Previous Story

Springboks Adjust Flyhalf Strategy Following Pollard’s Injury, Libbok and Jantjies Considered

Next Story

Mamelodi Sundowns Striker Etios Ighodaro Sparks Interest from International Clubs

Latest from Blog

Forty Metres of Air: The Morning Kiteboarding Rewrote Physics

Hugo Wigglesworth, a young kiteboarder, defied gravity and rewrote the record books by soaring an incredible 40 meters into the air. He used powerful winds, a perfectly timed jump off a wave, and special gear to achieve this amazing feat. His careful planning and hundreds of practice runs made him fly higher than anyone before, showing the world what’s possible in kiteboarding.

Airbnb Under Fire: How Cape Town’s Housing Crunch Became a Tourism Blame-Game

Cape Town’s housing woes are NOT really Airbnb’s fault, even though a viral photo tried to blame them! The real problem is that not enough homes are being built, and lots of new people are moving to the city. Getting building permits takes forever, making homes expensive. Airbnb brings in lots of money and jobs, and even if all Airbnbs disappeared, it wouldn’t fix the big housing shortage. The city needs to build more homes and make it easier to do so, not just point fingers at tourists.

Cape Town’s Hottest Tables: Where Summer Tastes Like Salt, Smoke and Midnight Vinyl

Cape Town’s new restaurants are super exciting, offering amazing tastes from the ocean, farms, and even old recipes. Places like Amura serve unique sea dishes, while Tannin has a huge wine list and tiny plates. Café Sofi bakes heavenly pastries, Beach Buns makes awesome burgers, and Le Bistrot de JAN mixes French and South African flavors. These spots let you taste the city’s lively food scene, from fancy dinners to casual beach eats, making every meal an adventure.

Between Concrete and Current – Four Inland Hearts Meet the Indian Ocean

This article tells a beautiful story of four South Africans from inland places who see the Indian Ocean for the very first time. For many, the sea is just a picture, far away and hard to reach. But when these brave people finally touch the salty water, it changes them deeply. They feel the ocean’s power, taste its salt, and understand that this huge, blue world is now a part of their own story, breaking down old ideas about who can connect with the sea.