Kabza De Small Reportedly Faces Court Action Over Alleged Unpaid Rent in Sandton. Amapiano star Kabza De Small is reportedly facing legal action over an alleged rental dispute involving a luxury apartment in Sandton, Johannesburg.
The matter has attracted public attention due to the musician’s high profile and influence within South Africa’s music industry.
According to reports, the award-winning producer, whose real name is Kabelo Motha, is being taken to court by his landlord over claims of unpaid rent linked to an upscale apartment located at The Leonardo, one of Sandton’s most exclusive residential buildings. The case is reportedly being handled by the Johannesburg High Court.
Kabza De Small is widely recognised as a pioneer of the amapiano genre and is considered one of South Africa’s most successful and influential music producers. His work has earned him numerous accolades and international recognition, making the reported legal dispute a topic of significant public interest.Court documents referenced in media reports indicate that the apartment in question is owned by Zolile Dlamini, a chartered accountant. It is alleged that Dlamini entered into a lease agreement with Motha earlier this year. The lease reportedly began on 2 February 2025 and was set to run until 31 January 2026.
According to the reported terms of the agreement, the monthly rental amount for the apartment was R95,000. The lease also allegedly required a deposit of R100,000, which was paid before Motha moved into the property. Reports state that the musician lived at the apartment with an associate named Nyakallo Mathoka. The contract further indicated that the rental amount would be subject to an annual increase of 10 percent.
The dispute is said to have arisen following alleged partial and missed payments toward the latter part of 2025. It is claimed that in September 2025, only R65,000 was paid instead of the full R95,000, leaving a shortfall of R30,000. Reports further allege that no rental payment was made for October 2025.The landlord has allegedly made several attempts to recover the money through formal channels. Reports state that multiple letters of demand were sent to the musician requesting settlement of the outstanding amount. When these efforts reportedly did not yield a resolution, legal action was initiated and summons were issued.
Dlamini’s legal representative, Barry Aaron of Barry Aaron and Associates, has confirmed that the matter is now before the court. While he declined to comment on the specifics of the case, he indicated that the dispute remains unresolved and will be addressed through the legal process.Kabza De Small’s legal team has, however, disputed the claims. His attorneys, Tailormade Legal, issued a statement denying that the musician failed to meet his rental obligations. According to the statement, Motha maintains that he has consistently paid his rent through the managing agent responsible for the property.
The legal representatives further stated that, at the time of the statement, the musician had not yet been served with the summons. They added that the landlord had allegedly accepted rental payments made via the managing agent, suggesting that the issue may stem from an administrative or contractual misunderstanding rather than non-payment.
Kabza De Small’s legal team emphasized that the artist intends to address the matter through the appropriate legal channels. They also noted that he would not be making further public comments while the case is ongoing.
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