Late singer’s executor seeks royalties
The executor of iconic singer Lebo Mathosa’s estate, Thokozani Mthembu, is pursuing royalty-collecting organisations for a full reconciliation of monies allegedly still owing to her 17 years after her death.
City Press reports that in the multi-layered legal process, Mthembu also seeks to declare the sale in execution of Mathosa’s musical rights, which were held by royalty organisations, to be rendered unlawful on the grounds that they belong to her adoptive mother Magdeline.
Mthembu instituted legal action at the Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg) on 6 March, in pursuit of a court order which would compel Universal Music, the Southern African Music Rights Organisation and the SA Music Performance Rights Association, who are cited as respondents, to provide verifiable evidence that the monies due to Mathosa’s estate were being paid.
‘(The applicant asks that it be further) ordered that any of the respondents who received any payments whatsoever, pursuant to the impugned sale, are to make payment to the trust account of the applicant’s (Mthembu’s) attorneys,’ read the court documents.
The outstanding amount owed to Mathosa’s estate is believed to be more than R5m.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
