Sing for your supper: church choir used to con donors

Christ the King Anglican Church in Sophiatown, has withstood the test of time, surviving forced removals and demolition.

The church has lived through the leadership of Trevor Huddleston and Desmond Tutu and is determined to survive an alleged con, Neria Madikane and her family.

On 3 April, the church held an intense meeting where members of the choir exposed the Madikane family, who have managed to pull the wool over the congregation’s eyes.

The choir members alleged that Madikane secured funds by stating in her proposal documents that the members were HIV/Aids orphans who sing to raise funds for orphanages. Choirs members allege that one of the oil magnates in South Africa, (who is known by this newspaper) donated R600 000 to the choir.

“I was hurt when I found out that she said we were orphans, while my parents are still alive. I can tell you now that I don’t think there is anyone here who sleeps without eating,” said choir member Rethabile Qekisi.

The members said Madikane had enticed them with a trip to Scotland, where they were scheduled to perform in August last year, in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh Chaplaincy.

“She said we will get way over R15 000 each when we return from Scotland and we got very excited because that is a lot of money,” Qekisi shared.

When they returned from Scotland, however, the members received R1 000 each, which did not come close to the promised amount and the R10 000 pocket money they each had to raise. According to the choir members, sometimes they had to sing for money in order to secure meals during their three-week trip.

Simphiwe Twala, one of the choir members, expressed her disappointment in the Madikane family.

“Personally I felt betrayed because I sacrificed a lot of my time going back home at 10pm after rehearsals. I also took unpaid leave for the Scotland trip.”

The members felt exploited and alleged that Madikane and her family had secretly benefited from the trip.

According to them, it was the third time she used a church’s name to perform overseas, under the name Soweto Melodic Voices.

Soweto Melodic Voices has performed during the South African FIFA Confederations Cup and recently at television personality Vuyo Mbuli’s funeral.

When contacted by the Northcliff Melville Times, Madikane denied the allegations made against her and said she would never disclose a person’s HIV status.

“It’s a blatant lie. How can you say that children are orphans when they are not? It’s a serious offence. I can’t disclose a person’s HIV status,” she responded.

“I’ve sacrificed my family’s money and put it into the choir,” Madikane countered.