Zinhle Mapumulo

Zinhle Mapumulo

Any trader should know his or her loyal customers, and vice versa.

But sometimes things cannot be that simple, especially when the commodity that changes hands can embarrass the customer.

Multi-millionaire Mandla Mthembu and a Johannesburg herbalist, Ntombizabantu Shozi, shared a rather puzzling moment yesterday.

In a report published in a Sunday newspaper yesterday, Shozi claimed the wealthy businessman, married to socialite Khanyi Mbau, was her devoted customer.

Mthembu is reportedly a regular buyer of umvusa nkunzi at Shozi's stall in Joburg's Faraday railway station.

But Mthembu yesterday denied ever setting foot in her herbal shop.

"I have never seen that woman in my life. I do not use muthi to satisfy my wife. She has never complained about our sex life and it's not because I use umvusa nkunzi," said Mthembu.

But Shozi says Mthembu last visited the shop on Friday.

"He comes here regularly to buy umvusa nkunzi. He said he wanted to keep the fire burning in his love life," Shozi said.

Showed Mthembu's picture published in a newspaper, Shozi said: "Yes, this is him."

Sowetan yesterday visited Shozi and linked her telephonically to Mthembu.

However, Shozi changed her tune when Mthembu spoke to her.

Mthembu said: "Why do you tell people I buy viagra from you? Have you ever seen me in your life? I don't know you and you should stop spreading lies."

Shozi responded: "Who are you? Are you not Mandla Mthembu? If you say you are not then you are not."