Nota Baloyi apologizes to Black Coffee following defamation ruling

Music executive and commentator Nhlamulo “Nota” Baloyi has issued a public, unreserved apology to Grammy-winning DJ and producer Nkosinathi “Black Coffee” Maphumulo. The apology follows a protracted legal battle in the Johannesburg High Court regarding defamatory statements made by Baloyi between September and November 2025.

Baloyi had previously used social media to accuse Maphumulo of involvement in bribery, corruption, and assault. While a December 2025 court order mandated the removal of these posts and a public retraction, Baloyi initially resisted, filing an appeal and challenging contempt proceedings. Maphumulo had sought a 60-day jail sentence for Baloyi’s non-compliance with the original ruling.

In his recent statement, Baloyi acknowledged there was “no valid basis” for the claims, labeling them “false and defamatory.” This retraction fulfills a key requirement of the court order and comes as the contempt proceedings were advancing in court.