SA: Cassper Nyovest ‘in debt’ after Moses Mabhida concert

The concert was held a day before the South African rapper joined the Global Citizen Festival line-up at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg alongside Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Wizkid, D’banj, Usher, Sho Madjoz, Tiwa Savage, Cassper, Eddie Vedder and Ed Sheeran.

In an interview with local broadcaster SABC News on Tuesday, Cassper Nyovest said the fill-up loss was due to lack of support and sponsorships.

"Most often we find ourselves in positions where we need funding," he said. "We need sponsorships from institutions like the government and we were not supported like we should be. For instance, we just came from Moses Mabhida Stadium and right now we are sitting with R7 million debt."

Nyovest, whose latest album Sweet and Short went platinum in a day, said the moment "was tough".

"I saw my manager cry for the first time. Just before I got on stage, as we were praying, he broke down. That’s when I told myself: 'Cassper, it's your turn to carry the team now.' The next day we killed the Global Citizen show. Blessed and favoured”.

Following the revelations, one Twitter user wrote: “Cassper Nyovest, so if someone can start a crowdfund and your two million followers, myself included, donate just R3.5, then you'd be able to pay off the R7m debt? Just saying boy. Or even if half the followers donated R7 each.”

But the musician refused to consider help from his fans. “[Laughs], that’s so cute but I think that’s a bit hectic,” he wrote. “I am just hoping the city of Durban or government will hear our cries. It’s really a big number. Something will come up, I trust.”

The Fill Up Moses Mabhida concert was Cassper Nyovest's fourth instalment of his record-breaking series. Previous efforts include the Fill Up TicketPro Dome, Fill Up Orlando Stadium and Fill Up FNB Stadium concerts.