Messy end to ATI’s show
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Sunday June 5, 2022 06:00
While many people had taken to social media to congratulate the music star for a successful show, there was confusion after ATI went live Tuesday afternoon on his Facebook page and one local radio station with claims that even though the show received massive support from Batswana, proceeds from the gate were stolen. The live feed was viewed by about 191,000 views, attracted 11,000 reactions and 2,000 comments. It seems there is more to the story, after the As One Music Concert organiser and also Blue Skies managing director, Kesego Okie responded that she was shocked and utterly disappointed at the allegations.
She stated that she was still trying to close the concert logistics. On Wednesday afternoon Okie issued a public statement indicating that a member of the As One Music Concert team revealed various consistent messages of abuse of office by the concert head of security. She further said the security personnel were specifically appointed on a preferred supplier basis by one of the partners of the concert, ATI. Okie further stated that they opened a police case against the individual who allegedly stole the money with Francistown Police Station where he confessed to have indeed stolen the money. Okie also revealed that there were deposits made by their team into their joint account on May 29 from ticket sales. She stated that they are yet to collect money from ticket sales at the various Liquorama outlets across the country.
Okie further explained that they will be able to give a full reconciliation this week, after which we will have a definitive appreciation of the project ledger. “My partnership with ATI in the concert was on a 60:40 investment and benefit basis, with the larger percentage being his. Due to financial constraints on his part to invest the agreed 60%, of which he would get 60% out of the concert, and the limited sponsorship we had during the planning stages, I confirm that I used my personal funds to drive the project,” said Okie. Okie indicated that the funds covered cross country activations, team travel, accommodation and remunerations (out of the six team members he only paid for two). Other costs include concert venue, key suppliers' deposits, artists' deposits, production, stage and sound deposits together with digital media campaigns.
She further said she was shocked by the radio interview through which ATI purports any financial misuse when he in fact failed dismally to contribute his portion of the agreed funding to enable the concert to take place. "In the same vein that we both reported a case of theft against his own trusted head of security, I challenge him to report his allegations against me to the police," she said. The stolen amount remains undisclosed by both partners as the case is before the police. As the story unfolds, several efforts to get further clarity on the matter form ATI were unsuccessful at press time.