Mbombela Farmers Market: Unpaid debts and broken promises
Is the Farmers market busy rotting? Several suppliers who had rendered various services to the Mbombela Farmers Market claim they have not been paid.
Explosive claims of unpaid debts and broken promises have flooded social media over the past two weeks, turning the once-celebrated Mbombela Farmers Market into a lightning rod for outrage.
The controversy intensified when Mabote ‘Bobo’ Motikoe, co-owner of the market, responded with indifference, telling Lowvelder: “I don’t know! Speak to the communications agent,” when questioned about the allegations of money being owed.
Once a glittering and well-supported highlight of the Lowveld’s social calendar, the market – previously held at the Lowveld National Botanical Garden – now faces mounting criticism, with service providers alleging financial mismanagement and non-payment.
The unfolding drama has cast a shadow over an event that was once a symbol of community and festivity.
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Service providers have spoken out in desperation, accusing Motikoe and his business partner, Mmabakwena ‘Kwena’ Lephoto, both Johannesburg-based, of ignoring their pleas for payment.
One of the suppliers, Muzi ‘MRRoxx’ Mthethwa, who provided sound at the market in November 2023, said: “I’m crying. All I want is the money they owe me. And all I get are excuses about why they can’t pay.” Mthethwa is allegedly owed R14 000.
Ali Raza, the owner of Club 2000 Tavern in Johannesburg, claims he loaned Motikoe R70 000 in February 2024 to help organise the market, but has only recovered R25 000.
“He told me he was running out of cash, so I loaned him the money. At one stage, he even offered me a free stall to sell alcohol at the market, with the agreement that we would split the profits 50-50 until the loan was repaid. That arrangement did not last long, and then he kicked me out,” Raza alleged.
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Stacey Engelbrecht, a consultant who introduced the market owners to her network of service providers, also shared her frustrations.
“At first, I was paid for my services, but soon a flurry of excuses emerged as to why they couldn’t pay me. They still owe me R12 000,” she said.
Engelbrecht has since stopped pursuing her payment, but expressed concern for the other suppliers who are still out of pocket.
Photographer Tumi Daniels, who took some promotional images for the market, described her struggle to recover R7 000 owed to her.
“It’s not a lot of money, but for me, it is a fortune. They made empty promises to pay me, but nothing has come of it. Now it’s a matter of principle,” she said, adding that she is leading a collective effort among suppliers to demand their payments. At least seven other suppliers have reportedly not been paid, though many are too fearful of retaliation to speak publicly. One such supplier commented: “I am scared they will retaliate and won’t pay me at all.”
When contacted by Lowvelder, Lephoto confirmed her identity, but abruptly hung up the phone when asked about the financial situation.
She did not answer further calls. Motikoe, on the other hand, became irate when questioned and referred Lowvelder to a spokesperson.
Lowvelder went above and beyond to try and get comment from her, but the opportunity to comment was turned down.
In a statement, the management team said they acknowledge the recent negative social media posts that have raised concerns about their organisation.
“We would like place on record that we view these allegations in a most serious light. We remain committed to addressing them transparently and responsibly. While these posts have potentially damaged our reputation, we believe in the importance of dialogue. As such, we are actively reaching out to the parties involved to work towards a constructive and swift resolution. In closing, we believe that our track record speaks to our commitment. For five years, we have sustained this market through challenging economic conditions, supporting local vendors and serving our community with dedication. Our success has been built on transparency, integrity and unwavering commitment to our stakeholders. We invite anyone with genuine concerns or questions to contact us directly. Open communication is our priority, to address all issues raise.”
In the meantime, some suppliers received letters last Tuesday, shortly after media enquiries, stating they would be paid on March 15.
However, by the time of publishing, no payments had been received by any of the complainants.
