They have been friends since high school in Mthatha and started making music while living in the Eastern Cape.  Sihle Mdaka (27), Lihle Baleni (26) and Ngcali Nundu (24) were discovered by singer Vusi Nova while they were studying in Joburg . He fell in love and immediately took them in under his wing. The Boy band 047 members and made up of Sihle, Lihle and Ngcali have since been having internal issues in the band that might see them go their separate ways.

CONFLICT

The trio gave South African hits like Wen'Ungowam, Akasemhle, Sabelani, Askies, and Helele. They collaborated with stars like Kwanda, and Ntando. They received a standing ovation at the Grahamstown Arts Festival. But in the last year, although they have been taking bookings, they have also been struggling to see eye-to-eye and engaging each other in certain business decisions.  An insider tells ZiMoja that Ngcali has had enough and wants to leave the group. "He is genuinely tired of the conflict. They were meant to collaborate with an international act but cannot decide which song to choose from and that blew out of proportion.'

BREAKING UP

Speaking to ZiMoja, Ngcali says he was still considering going solo but he and his bandmates were still in talks. "We are like brothers at the end of the day. We do almost everything together. I also don't want to just drop them because we are going through a rough patch,' he says. "We have big plans but I am also tired of arguing over petty decisions. I have suggested that the label be the one which intervenes and tries to help us resolve some of the issues and they have started meditating.' 

TRYING TO MAKE IT WORK

The trio broke out in 2017 with the release of their song Ubuhle and has been on an upward trajectory since. "We love what we do and each person in the group plays their role well. The troublemaking just needs to stop,' Ngcali adds. There has been a series of groups that have separated in the country such as Amaroto, Distruction Boyz, Malaika and Boom Shaka. Ngcali says they want to hang on, despite the conflict. "We come from far, but we will see.'