South African musician Makhadzi remains unable to leave Botswana as a P500,000 legal dispute with promoter Gilbert PP Seagile heads to court on 5 November, with her lawyers challenging the order keeping her in the country.
GOSEGO MOTSUMI
South African music star Makhadzi remains stuck in Botswana after an urgent court order obtained by local entertainment promoter Gilbert “PP” Seagile barred her from leaving the country amid a P500,000 dispute over an alleged breach of agreement.
Her passport is currently held by the deputy sheriff, with her legal team seeking to have the order discharged at a hearing scheduled for 5 November 2026.
DISPUTED AGREEMENT
Seagile is pursuing P500,000 in damages, alleging that Makhadzi failed to honour an engagement for a One Woman Show scheduled for 12 September 2026, resulting in financial losses and reputational damage.
Although he maintains that the singer endorsed the event, Seagile acknowledged that the parties did not sign a formal contract.
“We didn’t sign a contract but there is a conversation that acknowledges and endorses the show,” he said in an interview.
He confirmed obtaining the court order but declined to share a copy. According to Seagile, the order included provisions for Makhadzi’s passport to be surrendered and for her imprisonment.
“We opted for her not to go to prison because we were still negotiating,” he said.
Seagile said he had committed himself to preparing for the show and suffered reputational damage following the dispute.
“I have invested so much in preparation for the show and now there is reputation damage because I am seen as someone whose things don’t seem to work and I want P500,000 compensation,” he said.
LAWYERS CHALLENGE ORDER
Makhadzi has disputed Seagile’s account. In a social media livestream, she said she was stranded in Botswana and alleged that she had been harassed and effectively kidnapped.
Her lawyer, Bakotelo Mmipi of Bakotelo Mmipi Attorneys, said Seagile obtained an ex parte order without notifying the singer.
“We received an ex parte order from Gilbert. It’s an order where someone goes to court without giving the other party notice,” Mmipi told The Botswana Gazette.
Mmipi disputes the existence of a binding agreement, arguing that Makhadzi was only approached with a proposal for a partnership. He said the communications presented by Seagile did not establish that she had been booked for the show.
According to Mmipi, Makhadzi had requested a meeting in Johannesburg to discuss the proposed partnership and insisted that any arrangement be put in writing.
He also alleged that Seagile used the singer’s promotional material without her consent before claiming that an agreement had been reached.
PASSPORT HELD
Mmipi confirmed that the deputy sheriff has Makhadzi’s passport, despite the legal team’s proposal that her vehicle be accepted as security instead.
“The deputy Sheriff has Makhadzi’s passport. We have proposed to them rather just take the car because she came here with a vehicle as security,” he said.
He said the singer has professional commitments in South Africa and needs to return to work. The legal team intends to challenge the order at Thursday’s hearing, seeking to have it discharged and allow Makhadzi to leave Botswana.