Here is Why Kelly Khumalo Dumped Her Longtime Manager

Here is Why Kelly Khumalo Dumped Her Longtime Manager 

South African songstress Kelly Khumalo has reportedly parted ways with her long-serving manager, Kgothatso Tsotetsi, amid allegations of financial misconduct.

The two are said to have gone their separate ways two months ago, with insiders claiming a breakdown in trust as the primary cause.

Allegations of Misused Booking Funds

According to sources close to the matter, Khumalo dismissed Tsotetsi after discovering that he had allegedly been helping himself to booking fees. One insider claimed:

“Kgothatso has been helping himself with Kelly’s booking funds. I don’t know, maybe he was taking the money as a form of outstanding repayments as he’s the one responsible for dressing her and her band members.”

Another source added that the separation was not amicable:

“Them parting ways is [evidence] that they [are] no longer on speaking terms.”

Manager Responds: ‘There Was No Mismanagement’

In an interview with the Sunday Times, Kgothatso Tsotetsi confirmed the professional split but denied the allegations of financial misconduct.

“We just decided to take our separate routes. I have stopped managing her, dressing her and being her creative director. There wasn’t any mismanagement of funds.”

Tsotetsi emphasized that the separation occurred around early May and pointed out that he now wishes to focus on his fashion business:

“If Kelly feels I’ve stolen her money, it’s fine. I’ve been managing her for 17 years… Just that I had to focus on my clothing business, so I’m focusing on a lot.”

Past Booking Dispute Resurfaces

This isn’t the first time Khumalo has faced controversy around bookings. In 2021, she was embroiled in a dispute after she reportedly failed to perform at the South African Heroines Awards in Bloemfontein, despite receiving R30,000 in advance.

Event organiser Caroline Mosiamo alleged that although Khumalo arrived at the venue, she refused to perform, leading to calls for a refund.