CELEBRITY stylist Lindani Stylist slams The Fortress Venue.
Lindani, whose real name is Lindani Ndwandwa, hosted his event Fashion Meets Gospel at the venue in Edenvale, Ekurhuleni on Saturday, 6 September.
He said he wasn't happy with the treatment from the venue.
Lindani, who has dressed celebrities such as Bontle Modiselle, Ncebakazi Msomi, Ntokozo Mbambo and Mmatema Gavu, released a statement on Monday, 8 September, claiming they were unprofessional.
"It is with deep regret that we must express our disappointment regarding the treatment received at The Fortress Venue during the recent Fashion Meets Gospel event. In the history of Fashion Meets Gospel, we have never encountered such a level of unprofessionalism and disregard. Despite prior agreements, key commitments made by the venue, including the provision of meals and accommodation for our special guests, were not fulfilled," the statement read.
He also claimed that power cuts were disrupting the proceedings.
"Furthermore, throughout the event, the owner, Ms Mabutla, did not once enquire about our welfare or the success of the programme. Instead, our team was subjected to dismissive questioning about when the event would end, rather than being offered support.
"Most distressingly, our power supply was cut during the programme, resulting in significant disruptions. This prevented several artists from performing and denied designers who had invested considerable time and resources in preparing their collections the opportunity to showcase their work. Recurring power cuts further delayed proceedings, creating unnecessary strain on both participants and attendees," the statement continued.
The Fortress Venue also responded via a statement, claiming that Lindani Stylist's statement was false.
"It is with grave disappointment that we respond to the false and misleading information publicly shared by Mr Lindani Nowandwa regarding the Fashion Meets Gospel (FMG) Event held at our venue this past Saturday. The allegations made against the owner, staff, and wider team of The Fortress Venue are categorically untrue," they said.
They further claimed that Lindani hadn't paid on time.
"Mr Ndwandwa approached The Fortress Venue to host his event, and we welcomed him with the intention of supporting and executing a successful experience. A contract was issued, and a deposit was paid. "The contract clearly stipulated that full settlement was due seven (7) days prior to the event, failing which the event would be cancelled. Despite numerous reminders and extended leniency, this condition was not met, and a formal cancellation letter was issued to Mr. Ndwandwa on 5 September 2025. We have documented evidence of this communication.
"Later that same evening, at 8.08pm, Mr Ndwandwa contacted the venue owner directly, pleading for the event not to be cancelled as he had finally secured the outstanding funds through a sponsor. He acknowledged that cancellation would cause him reputational and brand damage. Despite the unreasonable timing and with another confirmed event scheduled for 17.30 on the same day, the venue owner, in good faith, agreed to assist and accommodate FMG at the last minute. Again, evidence of this communication exists," they said.
Fortress Venue further requested that Lindani release an apology and retract his statement.
"Failure to comply will leave us with no option but to pursue legal recourse for reputational damage and defamation of character. The Fortress Venue is committed to supporting black-owned businesses, as we are one ourselves, but we cannot allow untruths to erode the integrity and reputation we have worked tirelessly to build," they said.
However, Lindani has responded and said he wouldn't change his statement.
"I will not be silent. I was mistreated and undermined by the venue. That is my story. It won't change. I was sabotaged. That will always be the story I tell about The Fortress Venue. The owner knows the truth, and that's enough," he wrote.
