Trouble has erupted behind the scenes of South Africa's prominent gospel group, Joyous Celebration, with co-founders Pastor Jabu Hlongwane and Pastor Mthunzi Namba alleging financial irregularities against fellow co-founder Dr. Lindelani Mkhize. The dispute, which began privately in December 2021, has now spilled into the public domain, threatening the future of one of the nation's most cherished musical ensembles.

According to a statement released by Dr. Mkhize, a crucial meeting took place in December 2021 where Pastor Hlongwane and Pastor Namba expressed their intention to exit Joyous Celebration. This was subsequently formalized in a written letter sent in March 2022. Mkhize stated his support for a structured separation process, emphasizing the necessity of an independent valuation of the business, full financial disclosure, dispute resolution, and the finalization of a potential sale agreement.

For approximately 24 months following the initial discussions, Mkhize asserts that he continued to lead the group's productions, maintaining proper records and arranging bookings through a nonprofit foundation linked to him. He claims these actions were taken to stabilize operations and safeguard the group's ongoing productions amidst the internal disagreements.

The conflict escalated into public view after a weekend newspaper published claims made by Pastor Hlongwane. Among the serious accusations, Hlongwane alleged that Joyous Celebration received a R1-million tax demand from the South African Revenue Service (SARS) in 2024. He attributed this significant tax claim to the non-disclosure of financial information, implicating Mkhize in the mismanagement of the group's finances.

Further allegations against Dr. Mkhize include claims that he secretly secured sponsorship deals from both a leading telecommunications company and a banking institution without proper disclosure or the involvement of his business partners. These accusations form part of an alternative dispute resolution application that Hlongwane and the other director lodged with the Companies Tribunal recently. As Joyous Celebration maintains contracts with major music labels such as Universal Music Africa and Motown Gospel, the ongoing financial dispute poses a significant challenge to its operations and reputation.