Khutsi Accuses Dr Malinga of Stealing His Song ‘Dipolelo’
Musician Reikhutsitse Malala, popularly known as Khutsi has accused renowned singer Dr Malinga of stealing his song, ‘Dipolelo’.
Khutsi, 35, who is known for his work helping Nyaope addicts seek rehabilitation, entered the music industry in 2024 and has already released tracks like ‘Mo Fe Mavoso’. However, his latest claim has sparked a heated dispute in the South African music scene.
Also Read: TikTok Star Tsekeleke Accuses Dr Malinga of Spending His R100k Donation Money and Exploiting Him
Dr Malinga Releases ‘Duplicate’ Version
The controversy began when Dr Malinga recently shared a video of himself singing a recorded version of ‘Dipolelo’, claiming it was a new gospel track he was working on.
Speaking to the DailySun, Khutsi insisted that the song is his and alleges that Dr Malinga’s version is a direct copy of his original work.
“The song was recorded last year in August. I did it together with Thm da Reaper. The song is titled ‘Dipolelo’, even the Malinga version is “Dipolelo’. Malinga’s version is a direct duplicate of mine. They used the same melody, lyrics, and arrangement,” Khutsi said.
Khutsi Discovers Alleged Theft
Khutsi discovered Dr Malinga’s version of the song last week after being alerted by someone close to the singer.
“Someone who was with him alerted me that he’s working on my song. I also recently jumped on a Facebook thread and saw him with my producer reciting their new version of the song,” he explained.
Khutsi has since sought help from industry leaders and his legal team, emphasizing that he wrote the melody, lyrics, and arranged the song himself.
“I compensated the producer for studio time, which in our industry means I’m entitled to the master of the song,” he added.
Dr Malinga’s Response Sparks Outrage
Khutsi expressed deep disappointment with Dr Malinga’s response to the allegations.
“He said that he doesn’t owe me anything and we can meet in the media. I’m deeply saddened about this because Dr Malinga was someone I idolized musically,” Khutsi revealed.
He also shared that his song ‘Mo Fe Chelete’ was written with Dr Malinga in mind, making the situation even more painful. Khutsi believes Dr Malinga, as an industry veteran, should have engaged him respectfully rather than proceeding with the song without permission.
Khutsi Open to Collaboration but Ready for Legal Action
Despite the dispute, Khutsi remains open to collaboration.
“I’m open to collaborating with Malinga, but if they don’t come to the party, my lawyer is ready to take up this case,” he said.
He emphasized that the melody, lyrics, arrangement, and even the title of the song remain unchanged in Dr Malinga’s version.
“I honestly feel like this would have all been avoided if they contacted me. I feel like it’s the producer who is in the wrong, and Malinga decided to continue with something he knows is wrong,” Khutsi added.