Up-and-coming artist Khutsi Sdumane has accused veteran musician and producer Dr. Malinga of stealing his song. Khutsi, who looked up to Dr. Malinga as a hero in the music industry, is upset that his idol allegedly took credit for his track without giving him any recognition. He claims that during a visit to Dr. Malinga’s lodge in September last year, he played his own song, Mo Fe Chelete, for the renowned artist, only to later discover that Dr. Malinga had released a similar track without crediting him.
Khutsi expressed his disappointment, explaining that he had met Dr. Malinga and his producer, praising the hitmaker’s song Siyophumelela and sharing how much he admired it. He also told Malinga about his own track, drawing inspiration from the same style, only to hear Dr. Malinga’s version of the song months later. Khutsi was shocked to find that his unreleased song had allegedly been stolen, with no acknowledgment of his contribution.
The artist is still struggling to understand how Dr. Malinga and his producer managed to get a hold of his unreleased track. Khutsi claims that his version of the song was erased, and instead, Dr. Malinga and his team have gone forward with their own version, seemingly excited about the release. He had hoped that, as a veteran in the industry, Dr. Malinga would have done the right thing and credited him for writing the song.
When contacted for comment, a frustrated Dr. Malinga refused to discuss the matter, telling ZiMoja not to call him and demanding respect. He dismissed the situation, refusing to address the accusations of plagiarism, leaving Khutsi feeling betrayed by someone he once admired in the music industry.
