Praise singer owed R39 million by Libyan government

Praise singer Zolani Mkiva has not abandoned his claim for over R39 million from the Libyan government even though a case he brought in Pretoria had been dismissed, it was reported on Sunday.

"Me and my client are still discussing the case. We need to figure out what the next step is," his lawyer Bernie Meyer told the Sunday Independent.

Mkiva was commissioned by former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2009 to produce a CD and music videos.

"During the meeting [in May 2009] Colonel Gaddafi requested me to write and produce two songs and produce them into a musical album for the state of Libya," he said in an affidavit.

An initial payment of $700 000 (about R6 million) would be paid on completion of the albums, and the full amount of $4.5 million (about R39 mil;lion) would be due after the music videos were completed.

He said no payment had been made as yet.

Gaddafi was killed last year.

Mkiva had sought to attach shares in the Legacy Hotels and Resorts group.

His claim was denied by the High Court in Pretoria as he could not prove a link between the group and the Libyan government.