North West businessman Benjy Maponya has publicly detailed what he describes as a profound personal and professional betrayal by his one-time close friend and technical partner, Solomon “Solly” Soka Madibela (widely known as MySol of MySol Holdings).

In a lengthy Facebook post published around 7 October 2026, Maponya claims he is the founder of the N4 Cluster mining operation and accuses Madibela of cutting him out of a joint venture after he refused a series of personal demands.

The origins of the partnership

Maponya states he was originally appointed by Samancor, alongside a company called VJ Coal, for an opencast mining project at Buffels West. When VJ Coal was liquidated, he was advised to secure a technical partner. He approached Madibela, who he regarded as a brother.

“We used to share a 2kg chicken portion. I used to borrow him my car. We were like brothers,” Maponya wrote. “I trusted him with my life, not knowing that he would betray me in the worst possible way.”

According to Maponya, the two signed joint-venture agreements and agreed on a percentage split of a contract.

Rising tensions and payment disputes

Within months, payment discrepancies emerged. When he confronted Madibela, arguments followed. He says he was then told he would no longer receive his contractual shares.

The list of demands

The reasons allegedly given included that he was not coming to site (despite Madibela handling day-to-day management and hiring/firing under their agreement), that he must leaves his wife because she was “not good” for him, that he must relocate from his Hartbeespoort home back to Majakaneng, that he must stop hosting soccer tournaments, building houses and organising community events, and that he must leave Facebook. Maponya also links one of the main reasons for being cut off to his refusal to accompany Madibela to a sangoma, stating he does not believe in them.

“Tell them how you wanted me to leave my wife and promised if I did, you would continue to pay me,” Maponya wrote. “I refused all of it.”

Locked out and the contract dispute

After his refusal, he says he was locked out of the premises. The tender was allegedly re-advertised and ultimately taken over by Madibela's company, despite what Maponya maintains was an agreement intended to last for the full lifespan of the opencast operation. He insists he still holds a valid contract, that he was never formally notified of any termination, and that Samancor has records of his original appointment.

The heavy personal cost

The fallout, Maponya claims, destroyed him financially. He had purchased a house in Hartbeespoort valued at R2.1 million and was paying R115,000 per month, with a remaining balance of about R700,000. After the income stopped he managed payments for only nine months before agreeing with the owner that he had failed and had to leave the property.

He notes he has a large extended family of more than ten households in Majakaneng but could not immediately return to them under the circumstances; he and his wife later built a modest three-room structure there so they could stay together.

Why he chose to speak now

Maponya says he had kept quiet for years, wanting to start a new life with his wife – “the woman I chose over money” – and had even declined interview requests from major broadcasters. He states he was provoked into speaking out while campaigning for justice in an unrelated case involving a person he says was brutally killed by five known individuals who remain not arrested. He also refers to previous attempts to trap him with rape allegations via voice notes and anticipates paid social-media attacks following his public statement.

A call for support

He ends by calling for assistance with funding and personal security, expressing fear of his and his family's safety after past incidents involving what he describes as fake police officers sent to his home. He invites those willing to help or interested in interviews to contact him on 082 797 4012.