In a bid to revolutionize South Africa’s entertainment industry and nurture local talent, media sensation Bonang Matheba is set to launch her very own talent agency, which she describes as a unique blend of a production agency and a talent hub. Matheba’s announcement comes as a breath of fresh air in an industry grappling with a lack of effective talent management and governance.
Speaking candidly during an interview on 947’s HerStory Unplugged with Thando Thabethe, Matheba outlined her vision for this pioneering endeavor. “It’s like a power production agency, part talent hub because South Africans are great and we are fantastic, but we have not mastered talent management, and there’s no governance in our entertainment industry,” she remarked.
Matheba’s passion for propelling local talents onto the international stage is palpable. She expressed her belief in the abundance of superstars within South Africa’s borders but questioned why they aren’t reaching their full potential. “We have so many superstars, but why aren’t they where they need to be? We don’t know how to cultivate them, provide for them, and move them to where they need to be,” Matheba lamented.
This groundbreaking move follows a well-publicized fallout between Matheba and her former management agency, Celebrity Services Africa (CSA). In October 2021, she made headlines by announcing the termination of her contract with CSA and subsequently initiating legal proceedings against the global agency.
During one of her candid B’Dazzled YouTube episodes, Matheba opened up about her protracted legal battle with CSA. She disclosed that the rift began during the challenging days of the COVID-19 pandemic when she began to uncover certain unsettling truths. “For them to come in and then tell people that my wine is not my wine when it was established before they arrived. The audacity!” Matheba exclaimed.
The legal dispute had a profound impact on her personal and professional life, as she recounted, “For the past two years, I haven’t been able to function because I take things quite deep in my heart, especially people who were that close to me. People who were responsible for the betterment of my career, knowing how serious I am about my personal growth. I have had the worst two years of my life with this litigation.”
Confirming their parting of ways with Matheba, CSA released a statement shared with TshisaLIVE. “Bonang is no longer signed to CSA. The terms of the settlement provide for an agreed parting of ways. It was time for both Bonang and CSA to go their separate ways, and we are pleased that we were able to settle our differences by agreement. As per the settlement, the agreement has been reached, and CSA has exited the business,” the agency stated.
Responding to Matheba’s assertion that she owned the House of BNG brand before signing with CSA, the agency maintained that she was factually incorrect. “Ms. Bonang Matheba did not create the House of BNG before joining Celebrity Services Africa. Ms. Matheba signed with CSA in 2017. The House of BNG was launched in 2019,” CSA clarified.
