By Thabo Shole-Mashao:
Kanye West, arguably the world’s biggest hip hop star, may perform to a half-empty stadium in South Africa for his live concert this December -that is if the event will happen at all.
Now known as just ‘Ye’, the cantankerous artist who is also a producer and fashion designer, could be met by mostly vacant seats and a hollow stadium field if the ‘Ye Live Concert’ is not abruptly cancelled before then.
Slow ticket sales and threats
The concert, which was supposed to be the biggest live music event of 2025, has been riddled with a litany of controversies, including slow ticket sales and legal threats. Event finances are central to this messy debacle.
It is alleged that the South African promoter, Samuel Monyake, of the Monyake Group (PTY) LTD, has not paid a single cent to Ye and his team since the announcement was made on 10th September 2025. This has allegedly warranted a contractual breach and may result in Ye calling the whole thing off.
But, no payment is forthcoming
According to a source intricately involved in the contractual agreements, Monyake was supposed to advance the first part of the payment before Ye posted about the South African performance on his X (formerly called Twitter) social media page dated 20th September 2025.
“No payment was made even after the post, it irritated Ye’s management”, said the source who cannot be named out of fear of reprisal. She further said that Monyake was hiding behind one excuse after the other, blaming the slowness of investors.
Signed on the dotted line – Oh Ye, Ye, Ye!
This publication is in possession of a copy of the event’s primary contract between Yeezy Touring, LLC f/s/o “Ye” (“Artist”) and Monyake Group (Pty) Ltd (“Purchaser”). On payment issues, it stipulates that: ‘Purchaser to pay a payable 50% via a neutral escrow account on Artist’s signing of Agreement, 25% within 72 hours of announcement, and 25%, 7 days after announcement…’
An upfront conventional 50% ought to have been secured prior to subsequent engagements. It is also unclear how Ye’s management allowed the X post without requisite payment obligations.
John Monopoly, a known representative of Ye’s tours, received a media enquiry on his mobile phone and has not responded as yet.
A ‘smear campaign against me’
Monyake has attributed the delay to Ye’s management not signing the escrow account agreement: ‘I am waiting on his (Ye) management to send back the escrow paperwork that I established with FNB in South Africa, but they are delaying.’
Monyake further lamented: “What if I pay and he doesn’t show up, the guy (Ye) has that reputation.’ The South African promoter who has previously handled mainly relatively small gospel stars’ concerts in church venues insists that his detractors and competitors are behind the smear campaign.
For commercial confidentiality sake
Tickets went on sale from 24 September 2025, with a pre-registration option. Brandon Duffield, the CEO of Ticketpro, an exclusive seller of event tickets, expressed sternly that he is unable to disclose the sales figures due to commercial confidentiality.
He, however, said a significant number of tickets were reserved for those who pre-registered. Duffield also allayed the fears that dominated social media about the validity of the tickets bought: “Our priority is to protect fans and ensure that all transactions are handled with transparency and integrity.”
Ye or Chris Brown, who is the boss?
This publication has it in good authority that only 6000 (six thousand tickets) have been purchased thus far. Ellis Park Stadium is meant to accommodate about 42,000 revellers. This is a stark contrast to the recently held Chris Brown concert, which was sold out in just a few hours at the FNB Stadium with a capacity of over 90,000 fans.
Compared to Brown, Ye ought to be by far hyper popular and be able to outsell his co-American rapper on any given Sunday. In 2012, when Ye first performed in the country, golden circle tickets were sold out in 20 minutes after the announcement.
Fans assured of their money
Ticketpro further assured those who have already bought their tickets that funds will be held securely in trust and will not be released to the promoter until after the scheduled event has taken place, or refunded directly to customers if the event does not materialise.
The slowness of sales has been attributed to the lacklustre marketing efforts, which have been thwarted by the alleged lack of payments from Monyake Group. The company is also said to be deregistered on the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission in South Africa.
Social media feeding frenzy
Ye’s management team is allegedly considering pulling the plug on Monyake and finding another local promoter to avoid any possible embarrassment.
It is said that they may invoke a contractual clause which states in part: ‘If: (a) Purchaser fails to pay any amounts owed Artist hereunder when due; or (b) Artist has good faith reason to believe the Event or the Performance itself may be cancelled; then Artist shall have the right, immediately upon request, to full payment…’
Social media users have been extremely sceptical about the event and whether it will indeed take place. User @Zenkosi posted: “IG account created today (20 Sept), Ellis Park instead of FNB, Monyake Group owes their employees money”.
@AntagoniZt posted: “Monyake Group is going to scam all of you.” @NewsSA_Online
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