'Pay me my money': Mr Universe South Africa Pageant in hot water

‘Pay me my money’: Mr Universe South Africa Pageant in hot water

Social media analyst Phil Mphela demands R65 000 For his gig with Mr South Africa & Mr Universe South Africa.

Phil Mphela demands R65 000 For his gig with Mr. South Africa & Mr. Universe South Africa. Images via instagram: @kgopolophela @mr.southafrica_official

Social media analyst Phil Mphela has taken to social media to demand payment for work he claims to have done for Mr South Africa and Mr Universe South Africa. Mphela claims that despite completing his presenting gig, he has not been paid his R65,000 fee.

Mpela’s Public Outcry Over Unpaid Work

“I did the work. Everyone was happy until it came time for my payment,” Mphela stated. He claims he waited five months for the issue to be resolved privately before resorting to public pressure. “The semantic games of who hired me nton nton really is hogwash … to me. Mr Universe benefitted from my work, thus it is prudent that they make sure I am paid,” he added.

Mphela shared how he has gotten legal threats sent to him instead of the pageant resolving his payment issue. “THE MONEY THEY WASTE SENDING ME LEGAL LETTERS TRYING TO INTIMIDATE ME COULD HAVE SETTLED THIS PAYMENT LONG TIME AGO,” he wrote. Both parties have not clarified when this gig actually happened.

Mr. South Africa’s Official Response

In response, Mr South Africa and Mr Universe South Africa released a statement denying any financial obligations to Phil Mphela. They explained that the contract was between Mphela and Ms Nohashe of Epsy Communications, not with them directly.

“Mr Phil Mphela has publicly alleged that our brands owe him R65,000, a statement that we categorically deny,” the statement read. “To clarify, neither Mr. South Africa nor Mr Universe South Africa entered into any contract with Mr. Mphela.”

They further explained that they have made multiple attempts to contact Ms Nohashe regarding the outstanding debt. “We have received confirmation from Ms Nohashe’s legal representative, Mr Oupa Baloyi, acknowledging the debt and asserting that the matter was resolved,” they added.

A Public Battle for Payment

Mphela remains adamant that he will not let the matter rest. “Let me be clear. I am at a point where all I want is money in my account,” he said. “I will however use the only recourse at my disposal, and that is to remind Mr Universe every chance I get that I have not been paid for my work. Sue me.”

The Mr South Africa organisation dismissed his continued public campaign as “an attempt to extort money” from them for a debt they claim is not theirs to settle. “We will not allow our brands to be bullied or harassed by individuals who are not in full possession of the facts,” their statement concluded.

As the social media dispute goes on, Mphela stands his ground in his demand for payment, while Mr South Africa and Mr Universe South Africa continue to distance themselves from the issue, placing the responsibility solely on Ms Nohashe and her company, Epsy Communications.