Lindelani Mkhize, one of the three directors of the iconic South African gospel ensemble Joyous Celebration, has publicly rejected allegations of unlawful conduct linked to the group’s finances and governance. The accusations also name co directors Mthunzi Namba and Jabu Hlongwane and relate to alleged financial irregularities within the organisation. According to documents filed in an alternative dispute resolution application before the Companies Tribunal, concerns include failure to disclose monies owed to the corporation and actions that reportedly resulted in a R1 million tax demand from South African Revenue Service in 2024. The filing follows a recommendation made in May by an investigator from the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission. The matter has drawn significant attention due to the group’s long standing influence in South Africa’s gospel music industry.
The allegations detail several claims of financial mismanagement. These include secretly securing sponsorships and hosting events without proper disclosure, directing event payments to personal accounts or companies, and using company assets to fund more than R1 million in personal travel and vehicle rentals over a three year period. The application further claims that a R300,000 loan taken from Joyous Celebration in 2017 was not repaid. In addition, it is alleged that internal financial controls weakened after key administrative changes, leading to mounting liabilities. The dispute has now escalated into formal proceedings aimed at resolving governance and financial accountability concerns within the organisation.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Mkhize dismissed any suggestion of improper or unlawful conduct. He described the situation as a longstanding governance dispute that dates back several years rather than a case of financial misconduct. He revealed that in December 2021, the two co directors had indicated plans to exit Joyous Celebration. According to Mkhize, major events, sponsorship receipts and bookings were historically managed by an external agency. After the agency’s departure, these functions were handled internally through the Joyous office under a designated bank transactor, a period during which significant liabilities, including tax obligations, accumulated.
Mkhize stated that once concerns became apparent, he requested historical bank statements and appointed an independent accountant to review the records. He also submitted formal written queries to the group’s accountant regarding payments, accumulated tax liabilities and financial controls. He said the response to those queries came directly from Pastor Hlongwane, who indicated that payment related questions should be addressed to him rather than the accountant. Mkhize maintains that his actions demonstrate a proactive effort to ensure accountability and transparency. He argues that these steps form part of his commitment to sound governance and financial compliance.
Over the past 24 months, Mkhize says he has continued to lead production efforts while maintaining appropriate records and facilitating structured booking arrangements through a non profit foundation affiliated with him. He explains that these measures were designed to stabilise operations and protect the continuity of productions during a period of uncertainty. He emphasised that any administrative or financial oversight undertaken recently has been limited to interim stabilisation measures pending formal resolution of the dispute and a potential sale. At the heart of the disagreement, he says, lies a governance issue concerning the difference between operational remuneration and ownership returns. He insists that membership does not automatically entitle individuals to ongoing operational payments without active participation or formally declared distributions.
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