Late Zanele Mbokazi
World Gospel Powerhouse is facing mounting criticism after multiple gospel artists accused the organisation of failing to pay them following the 18th edition of the Crown Gospel Awards, held on November 23, 2025, at the Durban ICC.
The controversy comes months after the prestigious ceremony, which was founded by the late Zanele Mbokazi-Nkambule.
Since her passing, the awards have been overseen by her team, including her husband Bishop Mpendulo Nkambule and niece Nongabulo Mdluli.
One of the artists to publicly speak out, Nonhlanhla Patricia Matleng, took to social media to express frustration over what she described as prolonged delays and a troubling lack of communication from the organisers.
“On 26 November 2025, we were formally hired by World Gospel Powerhouse to perform at the Crown Gospel Awards. A contract was signed stating payment would be made within 30 days after the recording,” Matleng said.
She went on to highlight that the issue extends beyond unpaid fees, pointing to what she called complete silence from the organisers.
“What is even more disheartening is not just the non-payment, but the total silence. Calls and messages have gone unanswered. Phones are off. There’s been no explanation, no accountability, nothing.”
Her claims have since been echoed by several other performers who chose to remain anonymous, alleging that their repeated attempts to secure payment have been ignored.
Some also accused the organisation of being dismissive when approached, further fuelling backlash online.
As criticism grows, questions are now being raised about accountability and transparency within the awards’ management, with many in the gospel community calling for the organisers to address the allegations and resolve the situation.