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« on: May 24, 2009, 01:57:07 PM »
Mzansi icons in tug of war over Akon
24 May 2009
Theo Nyhaba
EPICENTRE: Senegalese singing sensation Akon
Senegalese superstar Akon is not Mr Lonely anymore – he has so many friends that some of them are fighting for this attention.
The fight for the I Wanna Love You muso took centre stage in Mzansi two weeks ago when theatre icon Lebo M allegedly tried to paint Tbo-Touch and Fistaz Mixwell, the business partners who brought the star here, as drug pushers who ran away from rehab.
Lebo allegedly told this to Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Jeff Radebe, who was supposed to arrange for Akon to meet President Jacob Zuma.
According to our source, the trouble started after Touch and Fistaz approached Lebo M to use his political connections to facilitate the meeting.
According to the source, Lebo wanted more than just to arrange a meeting and claimed that he was bringing Akon to the country.
Another source says things got sour after Touch and Fistaz told him he was not going to be part of the event as his duty was just to arrange a meeting.
Apparently Lebo M decided to play dirty and allegedly told justice minister Jeff Radebe and his wife as well as top businesswoman Bridgette Radebe that the two were drug addicts who had run away from rehab and couldn’t be trusted with organising an event.
He allegedly told Radebe that he was bringing Akon here and had arranged for him to perform at the Blues Room in Sandton.
The source says that Radebe consequently washed his hands of arranging a meeting with Zuma, organising VIP transport for Akon’s crew and dropped the dinner preparations that had been made.
The source says Touch and Fistaz were left stranded. At 7am on the day of Akon’s arrival they had to use their own cars to pick up the star and his crew from the airport.
The source says at the airport a fleet of Maseratis and Bentleys organised by Lebo M were waiting for Akon and his crew.
An argument allegedly ensued at the airport between Lebo M’s crew and Touch, with both claiming to be the organisers.
The source says Akon saw the spat and told Lebo’s crew he did not know them but knew Touch. He then left with Touch for the Melrose Arch Hotel in Jozi.
The source says Touch and Fistaz had to use their connections with former ANCYL spokesman Zizi Kodwa to arrange a meeting with Zuma.
Mzansi tycoon Patrice Motsepe’s people then invited Touch, Fistaz and Akon to a private celebrity-studded dinner in the penthouse at the Michelangelo Towers in Sandton. Lebo M apparently arrived at the dinner uninvited but was turned away by security.
Lebo M denies these allegations.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he says.
Kodwa says he was told of the story but did not entertain it.
“I have never met Lebo M in person, but Akon’s visit to the country was important to us, and especially for arts and culture,” he says.
And Fistaz now puts a positive spin on the saga.
“It was challenging but it’s over now. We managed to pull through and Akon met Mr Zuma.
“We are grateful to everyone who helped us,” he says.
Touch refused to comment, saying: “Why don’t you call Lebo M first and come back to me.”
nyhabat@sundayworld.co.za
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