Nomcebo Zikode suffers another court defeat in Open Mic legal battle! Grammy-winning singer Nomcebo Zikode has once again faced a setback in her ongoing legal dispute with record label Open Mic Productions.
On May 9, 2025, the Pretoria High Court dismissed her application for leave to appeal, stating that her case had “no reasonable prospect of success.”
Judge Graham Moshoana, delivering the judgment, said the court’s inquiry was focused solely on whether an appeal could reasonably succeed. After reviewing the submissions, he concluded there was no basis to challenge the earlier ruling. As a result, Zikode and her legal team were ordered to pay the costs of the application.
Nomcebo Zikode suffers
Dispute Focused on ‘Bayethe,’ Not ‘Jerusalema’
Although many fans believed the conflict stemmed from Zikode’s role in the global hit Jerusalema, the current court battle revolves around the ownership and contractual issues surrounding her song Bayethe.
The judge noted that Zikode’s legal team had pursued the wrong procedural route by filing motion proceedings instead of action proceedings, which are better suited to cases involving factual disputes.
“Motion proceedings are not designed to deal with factual disputes,” Judge Moshoana explained, emphasizing the conflicting claims between Zikode and Open Mic over contractual obligations.
Nomcebo Vows to Continue Fight
Despite this legal blow, Zikode remains determined to pursue justice, calling the court’s decision “fundamentally flawed and deeply troubling.” Her legal team is reportedly exploring further avenues for appeal.
“While we respect the role of the court, this is about more than a contract,” she said. “It’s about the rights of artists to be acknowledged, compensated, and respected for their work.”
Open Mic’s Response
Open Mic Productions, through representative Lionel Jamela, welcomed the ruling and reiterated its stance that Zikode’s case was weak. “It was obvious from the beginning that she had no case,” Jamela said. “We warned her she would spend more money fighting this, but she didn’t listen. Our door remains open if she wants to resolve things, but if she wants to keep fighting, that’s her choice.”
With her legal options narrowing, Zikode faces a difficult decision: continue the costly court battle or pursue negotiations with the label she has publicly clashed with for years.
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