They opened their first franchise in Tshwane and extended it to Cape Town in 2021. The co-founder of Ayeyep Lounge, DJ Oupa "Sumbody" Sefoka was murdered in a hail of bullets a day before his party in December 2022. There has since been conflict between his business partner Kagiso Setsetse and his family regarding ownership. This week, the establishment released a statement alleging that they are under threat by a gang leader who was reported to have been brought on board to protect the club from extortionists.

THREATS

This year, Setsetse announced that the club was temporarily shut down due to circumstances beyond their control. In a recent statement, the owners say their lives are in danger as they have been receiving threats from the 28-gang leader. "Ayepyep Lifestyle Cape Town is under the threat of an alleged 28 gang leader ’Ralph Stanfield’ who is currently exerting force in an illegal manner in order to not only gain a stake in the business but to take over control of the business," the statement read. 

A COURT ORDER

The owners say despite having obtained a high court order restraining him from coming close to the outlet and a criminal case opened against Stanfield and his wife, he has allegedly "continuously, through his wife Nicole Johnson and all his gangster employees, managed to always put a threat on the business and those associated with it," the statement said.

RELOCATED TO DUBAI

Not long ago, it was reported that Setsetse had a fall out with both Sumbody’s mother and Ralph. DJ Sumbody’s mother, Violet, is the executor of the deceased DJ’s estate and allegedly iced her out of her son’s business and Setsetse initiated intimidation charges against her after an altercation where security was asked to remove her from the Menlyn branch. Setsetse has been living in Dubai with his family and laid charges of theft and extortion via an affidavit, through his lawyers, alleging that he can’t do it in person as Stanfield had threatened his life.