The Jola Cafe Lifestyle Lounge in Sterkspruit has expressed deep disappointment and frustration after popular DJ and producer MÖRDA failed to honor a fully paid booking at their venue, citing health reasons—only to perform in Johannesburg hours later.
In an official statement released on their social media pages, the venue announced the cancellation of MÖRDA’s highly anticipated performance, which had been scheduled for Saturday night. According to Jola Cafe, MÖRDA’s team communicated around midday that he was “not feeling well” and would not be able to attend the event.
“He was paid in full and on time for the event and this is just simply beyond our control,” the statement read. “While we understand health concerns, we find it disappointing that he plans to proceed with other events that are happening tomorrow shortly after notifying us of his condition, as this undermines the respect owed to all fans, regardless of their location—whether they are in Sandton or Sterkspruit.”
The no-show has reportedly resulted in significant financial losses for the Sterkspruit-based venue, which had already invested in staging, sound, and logistics for the night.
In a gesture to disappointed fans, the venue made the event free of charge, and those who had purchased tickets were advised they could claim a refund at the bar.
However, tensions escalated when Jola Cafe released a follow-up statement confirming that MÖRDA had in fact performed at a Johannesburg gig just two hours before his scheduled Sterkspruit set.
“We can now confirm that MÖRDA decided to attend a gig in Johannesburg instead of the one he was fully paid for at Jola Cafe in the Eastern Cape. He just played there 2 hours ago even though he was ‘not feeling well’. Why accept a booking if you’re not interested in coming?!” the second statement read.
Fans took to social media to voice their frustration, with many accusing the artist of disrespecting smaller towns and local promoters. As of now, MÖRDA has not issued a public statement in response to the accusations.
The incident has reignited conversations around artist accountability and how rural venues are often left out in the cold despite investing in major acts.
Jola Cafe concluded their message with a call to enjoy the rest of the evening “THE JOLA WAY”—reminding patrons that the show, though altered, would still go on.
PHOTOS OF MÖRDA PERFORMING IN JOBURG THE SAME NIGHT:::
PROOF OF MÖRDA’S PAYMENT:::
This is a developing story.
