New Amapiano sensation Toss is embroiled in a nasty war of words with an event organiser over a refund. Real name Pholoso Masombuka, Toss who shot to fame with his smashing hit Umlando is alleged to have failed to perform at a gig even after being paid a deposit. Toss was meant to perform at the Ditos Bar and Braai in Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape on 22 December.

PAYMENTS

Speaking to ZiMoja, event organiser and promoter Skhulu Mqolo said he paid Toss's manager Slindile Mpatho 50% of the fee which was R12 500. "I did everything by the book. Toss charged us R25 000 for his performance and his management asked me to pay 50% deposit before he could come and the balance was to be paid after the performance,' Mqolo said. He added that Toss was booked to perform in East London on the same night and  they decided to seize the opportunity to have him perform at Ditos as well. The owner of Ekhoneni Lounge in East London who had booked Toss first suggested that Mqolo pay for the artist's travelling and accommodation which amounted to R9500. "We paid that to Ekhoneni and paid a deposit to Mpatho Holdings," he said.

NO PERFORMANCE

Toss was initially booked to perform at both venues which are about 130 km apart on December 16. But he didn't make it after he missed his flight in Dubai a few days earlier. Mqolo said they only found out about this through the media and that Toss management did not alert them. "We called his management and they asked that we postpone the event to December 22, which we gladly communicated with our patrons who had bought tickets. But on the day of the event, Toss arrived at the venue with his management to find that the area was hit by loadshedding. Mqolo told ZiMoja that the star wasn't happy with performing using a generator but demanded that they pay him the rest of the money. "We had paid him the 50% deposit and our agreement was that we will pay the performance after he performed. Besides all that we offered to pay him with cash, but he refused, we paid from a different bank account as his and when the money didn't reflect the same time he left and promised to come back after performing at the gig in East London,' we never saw him again. 

PAY BACK THE MONEY

Mqolo said that he was highly disappointed with Toss's manager Slindile Mpatho. "I did everything by the book but they still disappointed us. Our patrons were disappointed twice and they had bought tickets,' he said. "When I analyse everything I do feel that Mpatho cheated us. She has since blocked me everywhere and never paid back our money. We lost R22 000 for nothing as they came and decided to leave without performing for our patrons. They need to pay that money back,' he added.

NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT

Mpatho told ZiMoja that the deposit was non-refundable. "Toss was at the venue even though the contract states that full payment is due two days before the event. They were already in breach of contract and yet Toss went to the venue. We then agreed that they will not perform until full payment was made which they failed to do. Did they send you the contract? It states that the deposit is non-refundable. Especially because they are the ones who failed to settle the fee we agreed on," she said.