Controversial Gqom singer, Babes Wodumo, real name Bongekile Simelane has found herself at the centre of a conflict with Durban fashion designer, Philly Mhlongo from Sk'Dee Designs. A video of her attacking the designer and being stopped by her father Pastor Welcome Simelane and security went viral on the internet.

ACCUSATIONS

The Umgan'wami singer is seen screaming at Philly, who responds, "Fokof! This is not the first time. Babe's dancers owe me. I never said she owes me." The designer claims that Babes Wodumo's dancers; Smiso Zulu and Sanele Smallz, have not paid for the garment hired for a performance and Babes is accountable as they work for her. The designer says they hired out the clothes for a performance at the IFP manifesto launch over the weekend and did not have funds to pay immediately and left a deposit of R150. According to the designer, the dancers were meant to return their clothes clean after the performance. "I have been seeing them wearing the clothes and posting. They have not returned the clothes as promised," she says. "They took about eight items which I could have sold. I am not looking for free publicity. I was being kind to them because they didn't have money."

Philly Mhlongo from Sk'Dee Designs Picture: Supplied

SHE WAS DRUNK

Philly says the video showing Babes Wodumo came after she exposed the dancers. "She saw I posted on social media and decided to attack me at my place of business. She came with an entourage, very drunk and she assaulted me and my business partner." Philly adds that Babes also threatened her life, and she is now scared. "I am afraid. I have responsibilities, but people need to know that if anything happens to me, it is her," she adds. "I am running a business, and it would be unfair to just give clothes away for nothing. She must respect me the same way she wants her fans to respect her work."

THE CONFRONTATION

Babes has come forward to clear the air on the accusations, saying it is not the first time she has been attacked by Philly. "This girl doesn't know me. She has never seen me before and is using my name for clout," Babes said. "I saw that she posted about me and said my dancers owe her but my name was on the front line." Babes says she asked her father and bouncer to accompany her to speak to the designer. "I arrived and asked her if my name had anything to do with my dancers owing her. She started screaming and swearing at me and she called me a sl*t widow," she adds. "She then started swearing at my father, and I did not like that. I have never sworn at my father. I think she was drunk so I swore back at her. She just went on talking and screaming until we had to leave," Babes adds.