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Diva Network boss hits back at critics

by Lesotho Times
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Mohalenyane Phakela

DIVA Network Southern Africa founder, Tsholo Motsie has denied exploiting models who participated in her Military Camp party which was held last November in Sehlabeng, Berea district.

The Diva Network was established in August 2016 with the stated aim of empowering women through various entrepreneurial and entertainment activities.

It adopted the slogan “enough is enough with the pull her down syndrome” and staged themed events that helped the network expand and attract members from Botswana and South Africa.

However, in an alleged violation of the network’s mandate, some of the women who participated in the Military Camp party last week told the Weekender that Motsie left them stranded in Sehlabeng after the show and has ignored frequent requests for payment since then.

“We worked very hard in promoting the Military Camp event and even up to midnight on some days. We were so committed as she had promised to pay us M5000 each,” said one woman who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity.

Screenshots of a WhatsApp conversation between Motsie and one of the women seen by the Weekender, appeared to show Motsie promising to pay the woman via a mobile money platform.

The conversations took place from 20 November to 9 December 2016 and it appears by that date Motsie had not made good on her promise as the woman continued to demand payment.

Motsie who last week, declined to comment saying that “the matter was in the hands of her lawyer,” this week said  she felt compelled to clear the air because the allegations had negative consequences for her professional and personal life.

She said there was never an agreement to pay the participants.

“When I first saw the text which was doing the rounds on WhatsApp accusing me of failing to pay people their dues, I sought legal advice as I did not see fit to play the dirty game with my accusers on social media,” Motsie told the Weekender, adding, she could have posted on social media to prove her innocence and “show that what was being painted of me was a lie”.

Motsie said the accusations defamed her and affected her family as well.

“I have a daughter in her teens, a husband who is a businessman and a mother-in-law who is a member of parliament as well as people who support the network as well as my businesses. They were all affected by the allegations which painted a picture of me as a crook.

“To protect those people and clear my name I felt I had to come forward to this publication and tell the truth.”

She said she worked with two groups of models in preparation for the event, and the first group did the promotional shoot in exchange for the entry tickets and stalls at the event where they could sell their own merchandise.

She said the second group was hired via a consultant to be part of the promotional event which took place three weeks before the actual event in November.

“I never dealt directly with any of the models who are accusing me of owing them the M5000 each. They were brought on board by their agent whom I discussed everything for onward transmission to them.

“Our agreement was that they help with the promotion only and that I would pay the 15 of them M150 each. However, they did not have the military regalia which they had to wear at the promotion which cost M350.

“We came to an agreement with their agent that I would buy them clothes, cover their transport expenses, offer them food and drinks during the promotion and also free tickets to the event in Sehlabeng.

“People should understand that it was a one day job and that there was no agreement about being liable to them for the actual show. There was no way I could promise them M5000 each for such a short working period.”

Motsie said “information was wrongly communicated to them by the agent for I never dealt directly with them but then I feel whoever felt they were wronged should have come forward to see me”.

She said her lawyer was handling the matter and would soon advise on the way forward.

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