Category Archives: Mzansi celebrities

Sho Madjozi blames 8-hour SAA flight delay on 'mass looting under Zuma'

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Rapper Sho Madjozi has blamed “mass looting” under former President Jacob Zuma’s administration for an eight-hour South African Airways (SAA) flight delay she experienced on Sunday.

Madjozi made the comment in reply to a fan’s query on Twitter. She had earlier tweeted about her long wait at the airport.

“Been waiting at the airport in Durban for about 8 hours waiting to fly to PE [Port Elizabeth]. The flight is now scheduled for 23h45. Hoping for the best.”

SAA business rescue

When a fan inquired what had caused the delay, the popular rapper replied, “Business rescue on SAA my friend. But if you wanna go deeper, it’s because of mass looting of state funds under JZ [Jacob Zuma].”

SAA has been battling to return to normalcy since the recent strike by workers who were demanding salary increases.

The struggling state airline had to cancel some domestic and international flights for several days and was reportedly losing around R50 million in revenue per day.

Although the strike was resolved, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan suggested last week that its impact had contributed to government’s decision to put it into business rescue.

Fans react

Predictably, Sho Madjozi’s comment sparked debate among her fans, with some criticising her for it.

Sanele Sane Ngcobo replied, “Highly disappointed by this misinformed comment. Most painful part is that it [is] coming from my favourite. It is important for one to understand history of SAA before making such reckless comments. Capitalists want to privates SAA at all cost.”

“She need not to allow the hype of John Cena to get over her head. She is Thuma [Mina] Brigade we knew but wasn’t expecting her to spit on our faces. She must get her high horse and stop behaving like politicians because we will treat like one,” @Munyai_R_Gundo added.

However, others, like @PhandleVuyo, came to Madjozi’s defence. He replied, “Sho Madjozi is not wrong! At all!

“All those expressing ‘disappointment’ at the truth she tweeted must know their disappointment does nothing to her. At least we know she’s not a stomach artist like that goat-bearded dude who’ll sing praises for [leaders] like Zuma for their next plate!”

@Great_Kopi added, “They will attack you sisi. Truth hurts. Almost all SOEs suffer under the ‘father of RET’ [radical economic transformation].”

Leaders, fans send heartfelt tributes to Neyi Zimu following his passing

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Gospel music fans across South Africa are sending heartfelt tributes to singer and pastor Neyi Zimu, who has passed away aged 49.

Gospel ensemble Spirit of Praise, which Zimu was part of, broke the sad news on Twitter on Thursday morning.

In a statement, it said, “Renowned gospel musician pastor Neyi Zimu has passed away after a struggle with a difficult illness.”

‘End of his journey’

It added, “He reached the end of his journey at Busamed Modderfontein [Private Hospital Orthopaedic & Oncology Centre] on the night of 04 December.”

Zimu’s wife, Nelisiwe Sibisi-Zimu, revealed in November that her husband was being treated for skin cancer.

The popular singer was best known for his hit song Jehova Retshepile Wena. He was a pastor at All Nation Revival Ministries.

Social media is already awash with tributes from Zimu’s fans from all walks of life.

‘Gospel musical legend’

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)), hailed Zimu as a “gospel musical legend.” EFF leaders visited Zimu in hospital before his passing, and the late singer often performed at the party’s events.

EFF national spokesperson Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi tweeted, “The Vaal has lost a giant, SA has lost a musical titan, and Gospel has lost a Shepard [sic]. But HEAVEN has gained a worship and choir leader. His will rest in power.”

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi wrote, “Go well my spiritual leader.” The government also conveyed its condolences to Zimu’s family via its Twitter account.

Gospel artist Dr Tumi added, “Nothing would have prepared me for that call… #RIPNeyiZimu You represented the kingdom so well. Thank you for the contribution you have made and how you have touched our lives. Forever loved and your ministry will live on.”

“Neyi Zimu healed so many of us. Neyi Zimu gave us songs that prayed for so many of us when we couldn’t pray for ourselves. May his soul rest in eternal peace. Thank you for the music Neyi, thank you for the healing,” wrote TV host Hulisani Ravele.

#CountryDuty founder Tumi Sole also said, “Rest In Perfect Peace Neyi Zimu. You touched and healed many with words and song. Ka nnete, Jehova re Tshepile wena.”

Social media abuzz as Mr Price launches own beauty range Scarlet Hill

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Popular retailer Mr Price has launched it own beauty range called Scarlet Hill – and social media is abuzz with the news.

According to its website, the name is derived from the colour scarlet red, “which is a fierce and sassy version of our iconic MRP red,” and Brickhill Road, where Mr Price’s first-ever store was opened.

Mr Price has roped in talented singer Shekhinah as the face of Scarlet Hill – and she expressed excitement about the opportunity.

‘Dream come true’

“Working with MRP to launch their brand-new beauty brand is honestly a dream come true. From wearing their clothes since childhood, to being a part of something so monumental is so exciting!” she said.

Lungile Thabethe, the sister of TV host and actress Ayanda Thabethe, is also the head makeup artist for the new Mr Price beauty range.

Lungile Thabethe is already a popular makeup artist and YouTuber in her own right. She was at the launch at Gateway Mall in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, on Tuesday and shared the news on Instagram.

She wrote, “Thank you @mrpfashion for entrusting me as the Head Makeup Artist for this amazing brand. I hope to be a true reflection of all the brand represents. I have no doubt that you guys are going to absolutely love all these products!”

‘Nothing above R100’

The Mr Price makeup brand includes a range of body, bath, face, skincare, lips, eyes, nail and fragrance products. It also features a range of tools.

Prices begin from R9.99 to R89.99, something social media users noticed immediately for their affordability.

One user, @kelebogiiile, remarked on Twitter, “Mr Price’s beauty range has nothing over R100.”

“Mr Price ALWAYS looking out for the people though. Should be a political party honestly,” added MissLebo_M.

Mr Price’s Scarlet Hill makeup range is already available in stores across the country as well as online on its website.

For more information on which stores stock Scarlet Hill Beauty, visit Mr Price.

Exasperated Enhle Mbali appeals for 'silence' on Black Coffee divorce

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Actress Enhle Mbali has appealed for “silence” as she goes through a divorce from her husband DJ Black Coffee.

In an exasperated message on Twitter on Tuesday, Mbali said her appeal is not for herself, but for her children.

She wrote, “I have not gone to media and will continue on this trend. NO COMMENT!! I have had to explain the unexplainable to my children which is really unfair. I once again ask for silence in this time. Please. Not for me but my children!!!

DJ Black Coffee’s interview

Her tweet appears directed at Black Coffee, who opened up about their divorce in a lengthy interview with City Press published over the weekend.

In the interview, DJ Black Coffee, whose real name is Nkosinathi Maphumulo, said he accepts part of the blame for the divorce. He added that he had tried everything to salvage the marriage to no avail.

He said, “I believe I have done enough to try to fix things. I don’t want to speak about her faults – she is the mother of my children after all.

“Whenever I was wrong, I admitted I was wrong. We tried everything, such as seeing a therapist and a life coach, but nothing worked.”

‘2 children outside marriage’

In the same interview, City Press cited anonymous sources claiming Black Coffee had fathered two children outside his marriage with Mbali.

The children are reportedly aged 12 and 14 months old. The popular DJ declined to answer questions related to this claim, citing legal advice because the matter is before court.

However, the two celebrities have been trending on social media since the interview was published. This appears to have triggered Mbali, hence her tweet appealing for silence.

The actress has steadfastly refused to speak about the matter publicly since confirming the divorce proceedings via an Instagram video last month.

However, she opened up about her marriage tribulations while hosting DJ Zinhle on her talk show Sincerely Yours in August.

She said, “I remember in my pain, tears, strength and stillness there was one day when I was sitting alone and I thought: ‘Why do I care so much?’”

AKA hopes to raise R10-15m in 'Fees For All Mega Concert'

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Rapper AKA hopes to raise R10-15 million for students in debt through his “Fees For All Mega Concert.”

AKA, whose real name is Kiernan Forbes, held a press conference on Friday to give more details about the concert. TV host and radio presenter Hulisani Ravele was the host.

The Super Mega announced the concert’s date as 15 February, 2020. The venue will be the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg.

‘I have to give back’

AKA said his aim is to give something back to society, “Surely for everything I have been given, I have to give back.”

Concert tickets will go on sale from 5 December at webtickets.co.za and Pick n Pay retail outlets.

Ticketpro Dome, in partnership with Glen21 Entertainment, will offer the venue for free, according to an update on the #FeesForAllMegaConcert Twitter account.

AKA said a fund, dubbed The Mega Fees Foundation, has been established “to receive pledges and donations and disburse funds.”

A website, feesforallmegaconcert.org, has also been set up. AKA added that the aim is for the initiative to go beyond 15 February.

‘Not just university students’

The Fela In Versace hitmaker said funds from the concert will benefit tertiary students in general, not just those in universities.

“We may not be able to help everyone but, who we do get to help is someone who wouldn’t have gotten the help before,” he said.

Sibu Mabena, a young businesswoman and founder of Duma Collective, is also involved in the initiative.

Speaking at the press conference, she said there will be a structured application process and criteria for those wishing to receive funding.

AKA is no stranger to helping out students. He donated R100,000 to Wits University’s Student Representative Council (SRC) humanitarian fund in February this year.

Trevor Noah nominated for ‘Best Comedy Album’ Grammy Award: ‘I’m so grateful’

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South African comedy talent Trevor Noah’s star keeps shining brighter and brighter.

It emerged on Wednesday that he had won a Grammy Award nomination for Best Comedy Album for his Son of Patricia audio collection.

He took to Twitter to express his delight, “Today I woke up to the news that I’ve been nominated for a Grammy Award!!! I’m so grateful.”

Taking on Ellen DeGeneres

Noah will take on fellow comedy giants Ellen DeGeneres (Relatable), Jim Gaffigan (Quality Time), Aziz Ansari (Right Now), and Dave Chappelle (Sticks & Stones).

The 62nd Grammy Awards will be held on 26 January, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Singer Alicia Keys will be the host for the second year running.

Noah is the host of the hugely popular The Daily Show. He is also on his “Loud and Clear Tour,” which is expected to continue until June 2020.

Earlier in November, he made history by becoming the first African comedian to sell out the world’s most famous arena – New York’s Madison Square Garden (MSG).

He joined comedy legends such as Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Kevin Hart and Russell Peters to sell out the MSG. Overall, he’s the 10th comedian to achieve the feat.

Other notable Grammy nominees

Singer and rapper Lizzo has bagged eight nominations while Ariana Grande has five. Beyoncé (four nominations) and R&B artist H.E.R. (five nominations) also feature strongly.

Despite controversy surrounding his cancelled African Unite concert, Nigeria’s Buan Boy has bagged a Grammy nomination in the Best World Music category.

He got the nod for his African Giant album, while legendary singer-songwriter from Benin, Angélique Kidjo, was nominated in the same category for Celia.

Burna Boy was forced to withdraw from the African Unite concert, which its organisers also cancelled altogether, following public outcry over his participation.

Local artists led by the Tshwane Entertainment Collective felt he had reacted to fake news on xenophobia and had failed to apologise for threatening to physically confront rapper AKA.

‘Hayi no, SA doesn’t play:’ AKA says after Burna Boy concert is cancelled

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Rapper AKA has reacted to the cancellation of the Africans Unite concert following public objections against Nigerian musician Burna Boy’s participation.

Writing on Twitter less than an hour after the announcement on Wednesday, AKA said, “Hayi no. South Ahhh doesn’t play.”

Together with the Tshwane Entertainment Collective, he was among leading local artistes who questioned Burna Boy’s inclusion.

‘Threats of violence’

In a statement, the concert’s organisers, Phambili Media and Play Network Africa, said “threats of violence” prompted them to withdraw Burn Boy and cancel the shows.

They said, “The decision to cancel the Africans Unite Concert comes after the call from the Tshwane Entertainment Collective to boycott the Africans Unite concert in Tshwane.

“With the increasing threats of violence from other unfortunate segments of the public and without any government intervention, Phambili Media and Play Network Africa were prompted to take the threats and warnings seriously, as the safety of all artists and attendees could not be guaranteed.

“We then decided to cancel the concert. The safety of all attendees, artists and crew comes first.” Those who had bought tickets will be fully refunded, they added.

Burna Boy and Africans Unite concert controversy

The Africans Unite concert had been scheduled for 23 November in Cape Town and 24 November in Pretoria. Its aim was to spread a message of unity to help tackle xenophobia.

However, Burna Boy’s controversial tweets in September during the xenophobic unrest in parts of Gauteng sparked public objections to his inclusion. AKA led calls for an apology from him.

On 3 September, Burna Boy tweeted, “I personally have had my own xenophobic experiences at the hands of South Africans and because of that I have not set foot in SA since 2017.

“And I will NOT EVER go to South Africa again for any reason until the SOUTH AFRICAN government wakes up and really performs a miracle because I don’t know how they can even possibly fix this.”

In another tweet, he seemingly threatened AKA, who had called him out for reacting to fake news and outdated videos doing the rounds on social media at the time.

The Ye hitmaker tweeted, “And @akaworldwide I knew you was retarded but I didn’t know it had gotten this bad. Next time I see you, you better have a big security bro. On Gambos grave you gonna need it [sic].”

Despite the objections, Burna Boy refused to apologise and insisted that he would still come. He also received support from Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema.

He had not publicly reacted to the cancellation at the time of publishing this article.

Julius Malema backs Burna Boy: ‘No mascot can stop him from performing’

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Nigerian musician Burna Boy is facing stiff resistance from some local artistes and music fans who have objected to his inclusion in the upcoming Africans Unite concert.

However, he has received support from none other than Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema.

Writing on Twitter on Tuesday, Malema said he was “looking forward to receiving and being entertained by my brother @burnaboy here at his home called South Africa.”

‘Regionalism’

He added, “There’s no mascot that can stop him from performing, he’s one of our own and we will protect him. We must resolutely oppose regionalism led by political illiterates.”

Malema and EFF have been vocal in their opposition to xenophobia and their strong support for the abolition of African borders to promote African unity.

Burna Boy is set to be among headline acts at the Africans Unite concert scheduled for 23 November in Cape Town and 24 November in Pretoria.

Its aim is to help combat xenophobia by “rebuilding trust and respect amongst African nations by changing the current narrative to that of unity and solidarity.”

Other headline acts are local rapper Kwesta, Nigerian-American rapper Jidenna and singer Busiswa, among others. Minnie Dlamini will be the host.

Tshwane Entertainment Collective objects

Burna Boy’s inclusion has become controversial because of his tweets during September’s xenophobic unrest in parts of Gauteng.

On 3 September, he tweeted, “I personally have had my own xenophobic experiences at the hands of South Africans and because of that I have not set foot in SA since 2017.

“And I will NOT EVER go to South Africa again for any reason until the SOUTH AFRICAN government wakes up and really performs a miracle because I don’t know how they can even possibly fix this.”

Local fans felt he was being irresponsible by reacting to “fake news” and outdated videos doing the rounds on social media at the time.

Among those who took offence was local rapper AKA. However, Burna Boy reacted to him by tweeting, “And @akaworldwide I knew you was retarded but I didn’t know it had gotten this bad. Next time I see you, you better have a big security bro. On Gambos grave you gonna need it [sic].”

As a result, a group calling itself Tshwane Entertainment Collective has joined the fray and strongly objected to Burna Boy’s participation in the concert.

In an open letter to Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa earlier this week, they wrote, “Not only did he spread falsehoods through his extensive platforms, he literally incited violence and hate.”

They added, “He further promised to inflict his own violence on locals before giving your government an ultimatum which you seem to have received and succumbed to.”

On Wednesday, AKA said he was open to Burna Boy coming to South Africa, but asked for an apology from him first.

Malema’s entry into the controversy has further split opinion among fans on social media. Burna Boy hasn’t publicly reacted to the debate yet.

Kelly Khumalo on Senzo Meyiwa case: ‘People have decided they want me guilty’

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Singer Kelly Khumalo has spoken out against allegations that she may be behind the 2014 shooting of ex-Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa.

In an interview with eTV’s Morning Show on Tuesday, Khumalo said she has spoken about the case on many occasions, but the public has chosen not to believe her.

She said, “I’ve spoken about the Senzo Meyiwa issue so many times, but people have decided that they want me guilty, so why defend myself? They must believe what they want to believe.”

Khumalo dismisses cover-up allegations

Khumalo continued, “Me and God know the truth. One thing I will never do is to protect someone who killed my daughter’s father. At what expense?”

The Undithatha Kancinci singer also dismissed allegations reported by Sunday Independent over the weekend that she may be involved in a cover-up in the ongoing investigation.

She was Meyiwa’s girlfriend at the time of the incident, which also took place at her home in Vosloorus, Gauteng.

Khumalo said, “For that independent… whatever paper they are – how dare you? When you go out like that and write something so false and untrue and misleading the nation.

“Because at the end of the day, I promise you this – you will have egg on your face.”

Police also deny cover-up claims

Meanwhile, the South African Police Service has also denied claims of a cover-up, insisting that investigations are still on track.

Spokesperson Vish Naidoo told EWN that claims that a lead investigator had been removed from the case are false.

“The investigator that all the articles seem to be attacking is still the lead investigator in the case. He’s been an investigator since his appointment in 2018,” he said.

Public perceptions of incompetence or a possible cover-up have intensified following the five-year delay in finalising the case.

Last week, Meyiwa’s family announced that they had decided to work with advocacy group AfriForum in a bid to find justice.

Africans Unite Concert: Arts & Culture slammed for ‘funding foreign-owned company’

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The Department of Sports, Arts and Culture has been slammed for allegedly funding a foreign-owned company to organise the upcoming Africans Unite Concert.

A group calling itself “Tshwane Entertainment Collective” has written an open letter to Minister Nathi Mthethwa to raise objections against the alleged funding.

It wrote, “As creatives, artists and event organisers who seem to never do enough to warrant receiving funding from your department in particular, we were surprised to see a foreign-owned company, “Play Network Africa,” soliciting funding and support at the drop of a hat without any signs of due process.”

‘Arduous funding processes for local companies’

The concert has been scheduled for 24 November at the Sun Arena in Tshwane, while the Cape Town event will be on 23 November. It seeks to spread messages of unity following the recent xenophobic incidents in parts of Gauteng.

Several entities signed off on the open letter to Mthethwa, including TrapLords, HomeComing Events, and Mams Arts Festival.

They claimed that local companies often endure “arduous processes,” including long waiting periods, while seeking funding from the state.

They asked Mthethwa to clarify “how this particular event managed to receive such tremendous support in such a short period of time.”

Objection to Burna Boy’s participation

Several artistes, including local rapper Kwesta and Nigerian musician Burna Boy, are set to headline the Africans Unite Concert.

The Tshwane Entertainment Collective has however objected to Burna Boy’s participation because of his controversial tweets during the xenophobic unrest in August and September.

They accused him of incitement and spreading falsehoods, adding, “He further promised to inflict his own violence on locals before giving your government an ultimatum which you seem to have received and succumbed to.”

The group further questioned the logic of holding such a concert in an affluent area of Tshwane, noting that people affected by xenophobia don’t usually live there.

“They live in our townships and central business districts and quite frankly cannot afford to splurge R400.00 – R1200.00 on attending a concert that does not seek to address their lived realities in any meaningful way,” they argued.

They called on Mthethwa to cancel his department’s sponsorship of Africans Unite Concert and to respond to their open letter within three working days.

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