Sculptor-artist says he's owed millions

VENDA sculptor and performance artist Samson Mudzunga has accused his manager of cheating him out of millions of rands.

Mudzunga, 80, who made large sculptural drums carved out of wood, alleged that Alan Jacobs, his lawyer/manager, owes him R5-million for performances and the sale of artworks.

The massive drums with extraordinary shapes were used in Mudzunga's Dzingoma performance.

The singer performed in London, Germany and Honolulu, and said he was never paid for that.

Mudzunga also fingers gallery owner Michael Stevenson, saying he sold his drums without consent.

He said he went to Johannesburg Central police station last month to open a case of theft against Jacobs.

This was confirmed by Jacobs who said he received a call from a policewoman who said Mudzunga wanted to open a case of theft but nothing came of it.

Mudzunga said he feels hard done by and would still lay the charge.

"I have performed all over the world and they both never paid me. The last time I got money from Stevenson was before 2010, and it was R29000. I want my money for all my performances and they have been hiring out my drums and I got nothing."

Stevenson said he represented Mudzunga for five years and in that period advanced him money regularly. He said that aside from the sale of one work to the SABC, no works had been sold. "His share of the sale was R58000, he got R29000. We ended the agreement, we could no longer continue to meet his many financial demands.

"We had agreed to swap four drums for the substantial money we had advanced him. He then wanted one of these drums and we did not argue and gave it to him."

Mudzunga denied ever asking for money .

Jacobs and Mudzunga met more than 10 years ago.

"If he did a performance I got nothing because I wanted to uplift him. I would give money out of the goodness of my heart," Jacobs said.

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