AKA's former manager and Vth Season owner Raphael Benza reveals a complaint has been lodged against Prince Nyembe of Beam Group, which is AKA's current management company.
In a statement Benza says that he has submitted an official complaint to Human Rights Commission (HRC) against Nyembe. This is in response to what he claims are hateful, injurious and xenophobic comments made by Nyembe via emails addressed to him on several occasions.
On 24 October 2017, Nyembe reportedly sent an email to Benza which reads:
“And your clever? your just a criminal that’s all .left your shit country to come take advantage of our talented people!! go home !!you don’t belong here.”
On 27 October 2017, Nyembe allegedly repeated his comments about Benza not belonging in South Africa, saying:
“I can’t believe I’m still getting emails from you. I thought you had left SA and gone back home by now!”
AKA was allegedly copied in on both of these e-mails.
At the heart of the issue is a money dispute involving AKA and Vth Season. But Benza claims his submission to the HRC is about fighting xenophobia.
"As a proud African of Liberian decent I take a stand for all Africans that in 2017 we cannot sit back and let people like Mr Prince Nyembe demonstrate xenophobic attacks in any form without recourse. An insult to me because of my heritage is an insult to all Africans,” he wrote.
According to Vth Season director Ninel Musson, the company supports Benza’s decision to file a complaint.
“As a South African I was shocked by this hate speech directed at my business partner, Benza," says Musson.
"I myself have done work in over 10 African countries and as a company encouraging all its talent and clients to work continentakly, we have never experienced xenophobia. As a South African I will stand up against xenophobia.”