Zimbabwean musician Tocky Vibes, born Obey Makamure, made headlines over the weekend after a dramatic attempt to avoid arrest during his performances in South Africa. Wanted for fraud related to a dispute with music promoter Royce Mapaike, Tocky reportedly hid in a fridge to evade capture.
Mapaike, who is pursuing legal action against Tocky Vibes, claims that the musician defrauded him by failing to honor a contractual agreement. According to Mapaike, he had invested nearly R30,000 in Tocky’s trip, including expenses for flights, accommodation, and video shoots. In return, Tocky was supposed to perform two shows. However, Mapaike alleges that after making the payment, Tocky and his management began avoiding his calls and ultimately refused to fulfill their part of the deal.
Frustrated by the lack of response, Mapaike took the matter to Brixton Police Station, leading to an investigation. When news surfaced that Tocky Vibes was scheduled to perform in Johannesburg on 16 August, Mapaike informed the South African Police Service (SAPS), who then planned to arrest the musician at his show at Club Rampage in Kempton Park.
Sources revealed that upon arriving at the venue, the police negotiated with Tocky to allow him to perform for an hour before executing the arrest. However, Tocky managed to outwit the officers by concealing himself in a cold room, successfully eluding capture until the police were forced to leave.
Determined to see justice served, Mapaike continued his pursuit and accompanied the police to Tocky’s guest house the following morning, 17 August. Tocky was scheduled to perform at Alicats Pub in Randburg that evening. The club owner, seeking to avoid further complications, enlisted a lawyer to negotiate a resolution for Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, Tocky Vibes had already left for Zimbabwe, arriving in Harare that same day.
In response to the incident, Mapaike expressed disappointment: “It is very unfortunate that Tocky decided to run away, but the long arm of the law will eventually catch up with him. His passport has now been flagged, and if he decides to come to South Africa, he will get arrested at any port of entry, whether airport or via Beitbridge.”
On the other hand, a source from Tocky Vibes’ camp dismissed Mapaike’s claims, alleging dishonesty. The source asserted that Mapaike had not met his financial commitments and had attempted to use gate takings as part of the agreement. Furthermore, they claimed that Tocky had paid part of the videographer’s fees himself due to Mapaike’s failure to provide the necessary funds for the video shoots. As the situation unfolds, both parties are left waiting for the next steps in this high-stakes legal and musical drama.
In other news – Tragic death of former ZRP Chief Superintendent Francis Matsika in Chitungwiza raises questions
Former Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Chief Superintendent Francis Matsika tragically passed away on 19 August 2024 under sudden and mysterious circumstances at his lover’s home in Seke, Chitungwiza. Matsika, aged 57, reportedly collapsed and died while being intimate with his long-time partner, Blessing Zuva, at her Unit H residence.
According to a police memo obtained by this publication, Matsika arrived at Zuva’s home around 10:30 AM, carrying a plastic bag with 10 litres of cooking oil and a pint of milk. Read More
