Ringo Madlingozi wants legal aid
Afro-pop star Ringo Madlingozi, who has been charged with theft and tax evasion, has reportedly pleaded with Legal Aid SA to provide him with free legal assistance because he says he's too poor to afford his own lawyer.
Ringo Madlingozi has been robbed on numerous occasions over the years. Image courtesy: Facebook
The award winning musician, who has had a career spanning 15 years and has sold hundreds of thousands of records, is accused of failing to pay more than R2 million in VAT and PAYE, deducted from employees’ salaries, to the taxman.
The National Prosecuting Authority confirmed Madlingozi is seeking legal aid but its spokesperson, Nathi Mncube, refused to comment on whether he qualified for legal aid.
“It is not in the area of our jurisdiction to determine whether or not he qualifies for legal aid, so we cannot comment on that,” Mncube said.
A musician who spoke to City Press on condition of anonymity said: “We know that he is no longer selling and getting gigs like before but that does not mean he can’t afford his own lawyer because that man made a lot of money.”
Another musician added it was “shocking” that Madlingozi was seeking legal aid.
“We know that he divorced his wife but that did not financially set him back to that extent. It’s unbelievable, but then again, Afro-pop is no longer selling. When was the last time he released a hit?”
– TeamTalk
