Nomcebo Zikode ventures into business

Congratulatory messages flooded in for Nomcebo Zikode after she launched her perfume and a clothing line in collaboration with Jet Stores in Sandton City this past weekend.

The singer has added businesswoman to her biography after wrapping up this year with a major boss move, proving to be more than just a singer.

She says venturing into business is a message for every child from the township that was made to believe that their dreams are invalid.

Speaking to Drum magazine, she revealed that her perfume line and a body spray called Duchess by Nomcebo Zikode is a reasonable perfume with an expensive scent and her fashion range, like her music, is inspirational.

"My perfumes are affordable yet they have that scent that tells people that you are here. I am one of those people who loves subtle scent that turns heads when you enter the room because it also boosts your confidence.

"These scents can be worn the whole day, and I am very precise when it comes to them because I am a performer and my day can be busy.

"I know that I can use the scents to always smell fresh because I meet people and take pictures with my supporters and have performances in-between."

It hasn't sunk in yet for R63 million #Lotto winner! #FridayFeeling

An Ekurhuleni man, 38, has finally struck it rich after winning the R63m Lotto jackpot.

The man, who works for a gas company, bought his ticket last Saturday afternoon‚ spending R100 using the quick-pick method.

"Since playing from 2013‚ I would normally use a combination of my own lucky numbers‚ whether it's family birth dates or my children's ages‚" said the winner.

Ironically, he won using random numbers selected by the betting machine.

His wife said: "Today is our day. It has finally come and we are unable to express our emotions because the news of winning is so surreal."

The couple lives in Alberton. Describing his emotions the moment he suspected he may have won‚ he said he was overwhelmed with shock and excitement. 

"On Sunday morning I was at home and my wife was at work. When the results came up I just couldn't believe it. I phoned my wife. She didn't believe that I had won – she did not buy into my story."

His wife said he has been playing for years and would always claim to have won when he hadn't.

"So it was hard to believe him again‚" she said.

The couple has since shared the news with some close family and friends. The winner is still to decide whether he will continue with his day job.

"I have also been given some financial advice and shown an extensive portfolio of investment opportunities which I will consider.

"In addition‚ I opted for trauma counselling and the counsellor could see that we are still in awe that we have won."

Ithuba's CEO Charmaine Mabuza said they were on the hunt for the R14m Lotto Plus 2 winner from the Wednesday draw. The ticket was bought in Bridgton‚ Oudtshoorn.

Mihlali Ndamase claims her throne

Media influencer and content creator Mihlali Ndamase was in a celebratory mood after she bagged an award at the South African Social Media Awards as the social media personality of the year in Sandton this past weekend.

The social media awards recognise the best campaigns, individuals and digital tools in social media.

The awards also feature 18 categories, covering every aspect of social media, across major social media channels and celebrating and allowing all creatives to shine and enjoy the fruits of their hard work.

After finding out about her win the social star went on to thank the organisers for giving her this great opportunity and those who voted for her, including the judges and the public.

"Big mood as the Social Media Personality Of The Year. Thank you South African Social Media Awards for the nominations and awards, I truly appreciate it, to everyone who voted for me allowing me to take this baby home, thank you! I'm honoured. To more."

Her timeline was filled with congratulatory messages from her fans and close friends.

These achievements show how much one can thrive in the digital space as she also got a nod at the People's Choice Awards for the African Social Star of the Year.

The vlogger and social media influencer has grown her brand since her activity in the entertainment industry in 2015.

She has always had a knack for the beauty industry and her new business venture, Malakyt, is a platform that creates job opportunities for up-and-coming beauty artists.

The certified make-up artist is also passionate about helping others. With a foundation called Siyazana, she goes around donating to impoverished communities, orphanages, homes, schools and shelters.

Her determination inspires many young people on social media.

Miss Botswana goes for the big one

The world will finally get to witness the live crowning of the 70th Miss World queen next week Thursday the 16th of December. Botswana like most countries is eyeing the Blue Crown. 

And all hope lies with the extraordinary and sparkling Miss World-Botswana, Palesa Molefe.

Molefe is among the 98 queens from across the world that are in San Juan, Puerto Rico elegantly fighting tooth and nail to secure a spot at the semi-finals, and ideally bring home the crown that has eluded Botswana for years.

Molefe has bountiful energy and a calmness around her that is literally mind-blowing. Not only has she captured the hearts of Batswana but the world at large is really taking notice of what she is doing, and some are rooting for her.

This is possibly the first time that a Miss World Botswana queen is receiving this amount of love not only from home but outside as well. Batswana are literally camping on Social Media, and Mob Star, and voting through liking her content.

Speaking in an interview with The Midweek Sun this Tuesday, Molefe said it is getting more intense as the day of the crowning draws nearer, but assured that, that is far from doing anything to dent her spirit, or even put out her eternal flame.

Instead it is pushing her even more. She explained that from a young age, she has as always had a bubbly personality. Those who she grew up with can attest to that, she said.

She said that even as it gets hectic and intense, she still takes time to meditate and pray, which she notes is doing wonders for her.

Cassper Nyovest puts his best foot forward and secures the bag

It has been months after the much-anticipated Root Of Fame sneakers were launched by the award-winning rapper and they seem to be flying off the shelves.

Refiloe Phoolo, fondly known as Cassper Nyovest, has been gushing over the sales of his Root Of Fame sneakers. 

Phoolo made a boss move earlier this year and collaborated with South
Africa's famous footwear, Drip, owned by Lekau Sehoana. 

Nyovest was no stranger to the brand as he was first an ambassador but later joined forces to make a good product for his fans.

The Good For That hitmaker expressed gratitude to his fans and promised them more. "The 990s are selling well, you can't even imagine. I am sooo grateful for your support. Look out for the 5 new colours and the 990s V2. The V2 is gonna be a gamechanger, a game winner. We working."

It's believed the rapper signed a mega-million deal with the Drip footwear owner. He also mentioned how he came up with the name, Root Of Fame. 

"My fame didn't matter. For the first time in my life it was useless. I asked myself how I can package this fame and sell it. I had to make a product not only associated with my name but that also gives people a taste of how it feels to be me. I had to dig deep, hence the name, Root Of Fame."

Sjava in new venture #FridayFeeling

The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) recently made a call for artists across the African continent to join in solidarity with the cultural boycott against a Swaziland festival.

One of the main performers Jabulani Hadebe, known as Sjava, has heeded the call and rejected his invitation to perform at the Luju Festival in Malkerns this weekend.

SSN believes the cultural boycott is an effective way to address political opinions in the Kingdom of eSwatini, formerly known as Swaziland.

Sjava's management team confirmed that the South African singer, rapper, and actor will not be performing at the festival.

The spokesperson for the SSN, Lucky Lukhele, said the network welcomed the solidarity gesture made by Sjava and expressed their gratitude to him for standing with the oppressed people of Swaziland.

"What Sjava has done is his obligation … Solidarity binds us as human beings and assists us in achieving a common purpose.

"The Network wishes to also acknowledge the tireless efforts made by the People's Poet, Mzwakhe Mbuli, to encourage artists to boycott the kingdom's cultural activities and we further wish to encourage other artists to join the boycott," said Lukhele.

He added that SA Afropop group Mafikizolo is still expected to perform at the Luju Festival.

He says the network is engaging with the group to join the cultural boycott against the festival.

Sonia Mbele gets love for her water business #FridayFeeling

With the summer already sweltering, actress, TV producer and media personality Sonia Mbele has arrived at the right time to quench thirsts as she launches her alkaline water branding and bottling company, Alkamax.

This business venture has added to a list of others she has invested her time in, making her a veritable jack-ofall trades. The TV personality revealed how she saw a gap in the market and thought of filling it.

The new #Tecno Camon 17P is a phone made for social media fans #ProductReview

Tecno, the smartphone brand best known for its sales dominance across Africa, has made its next big move on South Africa's youth market, two months after launching "a flagship phone at a budget price" into this segment.

It has released the Tecno Camon 17P handset, claiming it to be the world's clearest selfie camera smartphone.

While its rise across Africa was largely premised on affordability, it is now combining value for money with cutting-edge technology – at least as far as its target market is concerned.

Along with a huge 6.8-inch full high-definition display, it has a 16MP AI selfie camera on the front and 64MP on the back, combined with 2MP bokeh, 2MP macro lens and AI lens.

The macro is sharp, bokeh works well for artistic effects, and various filters and video templates allow for great customisation of images and videos.

The phone is powered by a G85 Octa-core processor from Mediatek, which designed the chip for the premium 4G gaming smartphone segment.

They use something called HyperEngine gaming technology, which optimises the entire smartphone using four "engines" that cover networking, rapid display and touchscreen response, resource management and picture quality, enabling seamless gameplay.

More processing power means more power drainage, and the 17P addresses this challenge with a 5 000mAh 18W flash-charging battery. It allows for around two days of regular usage, but don't expect the same from powerplay.

"The eight-core CPU [central processing unit] with HyperEngine game optimisation is our fastest chip yet, giving users exceptional performance," says Danni Xu, Tecno chief marketing officer. 

"Also, intelligent scheduling and balancing allows for reallocation of resources to ensure maximum power efficiency so that your battery will last longer.

"We understand the younger generation's need for superior technology to communicate and bring their ideas to the world. In developing our smartphones, we pay special attention to camera features since selfies have become such an important part of users' online identities."

A distinctive design, tall and slim, with a gold-etched logo, gives it a premium look, which ensures it stands out from its similarly priced competitors.

How much is it?

Starts at R4 999.

Are instant noodles safe or deadly

Experts suspect flavouring which have more ingredients.

Are two-minute noodles safe to eat? This has become an important question for many consumers who often eat this instant meal because it is quick to make and often in poor communities because it is cheap and quickly fill up empty tummies.

Five children died after eating two-minute noodles recently, two in Mpumalanga and three in the Eastern Cape, while the department of health is investigating a case of food poisoning in Gauteng.

However, there has been no conclusion about what the children died from.

Instant noodles or ramen are a precooked and dried block of noodles sold with a sachet of flavouring that are cooked or soaked in boiling water before eating.

The instant variety of noodles was created by Momofuku Ando in Japan and first sold in 1958. Ando developed the process of flash frying noodles to ensure a longer shelf life. In Western countries they are usually air-dried.

Dr Hanli de Beer, senior consumer science lecturer at the North-West University, says there is little chance any organism can grow on them if the packets are sealed. 

"Although it does not spoil, what happened during the preparation and when the children ate it would be important. Food poisoning happens when a toxic substance is in the food that is eaten. Symptoms appear within a few hours," she says.

De Beer says the toxin could also be chemical, such as where a container used to prepare the noodles is contaminated. 

However, she and Nicola Brook, director of Foodpath, suspect the flavouring as it contains many more ingredients than the noodles which could be contaminated.

Manufacturer Nestlé has not been contacted regarding the incidents.

Dineo Langa gets South Africans all amped up

Media personality Dineo Langa is on a high after announcing sparkling news to her fans about being a new ambassador for JC Le Roux.

The House of JC Le Roux is South Africa's first dedicated sparkling wine cellar and a leading wine producer.

The Estate star took to her social platforms to pop the big news.

"And just like that, in my year of congratulations, I usher this one with a sparkle. Absolutely thrilled to announce my ambassadorship for the House of JC Le Roux family.

"We have another surprise in store with this fabulous announcement and we promise we won't keep you waiting for too long."

JC Le Roux also shared its excitement: "Vibrant, elegant and ready to sparkle, JC Le Roux Nectar has a sophisticated new look and the equally fabulous Dineo Langa to share it with you. Get ready for the new Nectar, coming soon to a store near you."

The content curator has since received many congratulations from fans and colleagues.

Langa said she was enjoying going from strength to strength. Earlier this year, the actress was celebrated for her new role on SABC 3's telenovela, The Estate. This happened shortly after she left The Queen, leaving fans shattered by her departure.

Sizwe Dlomo and Unathi Nkayi at it again

It has been almost a week since Unathi Nkayi was fired from Kaya 959, and there has been a lot of controversy around her dismissal.

This is because a statement issued by Kaya 959 did not lay down all the details of the events that saw the singer shown the door by the station, leaving many to their own speculations.

The only highlight was how those events broke down the relationship between the two parties.

Only the article by City Press shed light on what transpired at the station, revealing that her dismissal came after a verbal spat with Sizwe Dhlomo.

According to the sources, the former Midday Joy Show presenter had laid complaints about Dhlomo's late arrival for his show, After Noon Drive with Sizwe.

Their altercation led Nkayi to claim that she was verbally abused by
Dhlomo. It's alleged that she described Dhlomo as the "worst" person to work with as he was "always late, rude, domineering, and arrogant".

Dhlomo shared his sentiments in light of what happened between them.

"I'd like to just state that in the context of GBV in our country and even against the backdrop of Kaya's history as an organisation, a false abuse claim is not only malicious to those it is levelled against but it also delegitimises the claims of thousands of victims whose cases fall apart because of lack of evidence.

"Such an egregious lie is a highly irresponsible thing to do."

Dhlomo believes he would have lost his job if it was not for the recording which proved his innocence.

His reputation would have also been damaged because verbal abuse is a serious issue.

He said the microphones in the studio were on and recorded their heated argument, and this helped him to take it to human resources. After listening to the recording, it was uncovered that Nkayi was not verbally abused in any way.

After these events, Dhlomo claimed that he thought they were getting along because Nkayi was the reason he was at Kaya 959. She even sent him a message asking if she could give Greg Maloka, then station managing director, his number and every interaction people heard was sincere.

Watch: Makhadzi and Master KG lap dance gets people drooling

Makhadzi and Master KG have again sparked dating rumours after a video of them fondling during their studio session was recently shared on social media.

The two Limpopo-born stars announced their long-term relationship had come to an end in 2020 after they chose to focus on their budding careers

"Me and Makhadzi parted ways months ago to focus on our careers. We are still young and we need to achieve big things. (We) hope everyone understands and respects that. I am no longer going to answer anything related to this. Thanks," Master KG wrote on Facebook.

"Indeed it is true, it has come to an end of our relationship. Kindly respect our decision," Makhadzi took to her time-line to confirm the news.

Now that the two stars have reached the height of their stardom, Mzansi seems to be convinced they have rekindled their relationship.

This is after Makhadzi shared a Facebook Live on Friday during her studio session with Master KG, dancing and singing to an unreleased love song while pointing at each other.

Makhadzi has previously slammed speculation that she and Master KG were an item.

She did so in a Facebook Live video in which she said they had a platonic relationship and viewed each other as siblings.

"What happened between Master KG and I is that we decided to be a brother and sister. We are OK. We are cool," she said.

Thuli Phongolo talks about #TheWife

Actress Thuli Phongolo has penned a letter of gratitude after the première of Showmax's new telenovela The Wife.

Thuli, who juggles life as a DJ and an actress, is part of the cast of The Wife, which is based on Dudu Busani-Dube's best-selling novel Hlomu the Wife.

Taking to Instagram on Thursday, Thuli said she was excited for the audience to finally acquaint themselves with her new character Lerato, and that she is enjoying every minute portraying the role.

"I'm glad you guys have finally met Lerato! What a job she is, oh but I love her! You just never see her coming because she hides her layers well, but everything she does, she does with intent ... things get quite interesting!" she wrote.

"Happy to be a part of the phenomenon that's Hlomu: The Wife, enjoying the cast so much! An original, a love story with a twist," she wrote. Though the telenovela is based on Busani-Dube's novel, the author and journalist has warned fans that the show will be different from the book.

"It's going to be very different ... There are going to be new things and new people introduced by the film part of it, and things that are going to be left out from the book.

"This is a telenovela inspired by the book, so it changes. It changes a lot. So look, ja, it's going to be different, but people are going to love it," she said. - Times.

How fame found Lady Du

The music industry is filled with fame-hungry talents that quit when careers take too long to blossom. The long road to success did not stop Duduzile "Lady Du" Ngwenya from reaching her dreams.

The amapiano artist spent 15 years experimenting with different music genres with the hope of finding one that would suit her personality.

The Vosloorus-born artist started her music career under the wing of her father, DJ Choc, at the age of 10. At the time, she was celebrated as the youngest R&B artist in Mzansi.

"I would see my dad clean his equipment in preparation for his gigs and it sparked interest in me. I sometimes used his equipment to mimic what I usually saw him do.

"My dad realised my interest and started teaching me his work when I was nine," she said.

But the clubs were not a good place for a child to hang out. Even with her excitement to perform behind the decks, she realised that the nightlife was dominated by older people who did not share her interests, apart from her skills.

She then took a break from late-night performances to focus on school, while keeping an eye on her grandfather and singer Elias Ngwenya, uncle DJ Zan D and her father to enrich her musical skills.

Ngwenya spent her tertiary years studying somatology at a London university and worked as a somatologist and skin therapist before returning to South Africa in 2012.

Zakes Bantwini makes history with #Osama

Congratulations are in order for Zakes Bantwini after his chart-topping single Osama became the first and only single since RadioMonitor's establishment to retain the no 1 spot for 10 weeks in a row on SA radio charts.

RadioMonitor confirmed the milestone was inclusive of both international and local songs released in the past five years since the launch of the British music company.

Bantwini's Afro-electronic dance hit single featuring Kasango surpassed the record of songs like Prince Kaybee's Fetch Your Life and tunes by the American R&B duo Silk Sonic, which have had 12 non-consecutive weeks at no 1 on the RAMS chart.

When Mzansi first heard the Osama single after videos of Bantwini's live performance at Kunye were shared, they could not get enough, and many dubbed it their 2021 song of the year.

Since its release on September 10, many renowned DJs have been playing the song at venues across the world.

From Spain to Portugal, England, Switzerland and even Kenya, Bantwini has broken boundaries with the song and is set to make an even bigger impact with other singles from his album Ghetto King.

The musician has been vocal about continuing his mission to use music to unite Africa and the world.

#DiepCity star survived 3 suicide attempts

Actress Nozuko Ntshangase has opened up about living with depression and surviving three suicide attempts.

The Diep City actress recently shared a video on her YouTube channel detailing her experiences when she tried to kill herself.

Though Ntshangase says she was never medically diagnosed, she says her first depression phase started during her adolescence, which lead to her attempting suicide at 16.

"I started being suicidal at 16. I remember the first time I tried to kill myself, I was scared and I remember I didn't want to die and I used pills.

"I drank pills and I don't remember being sick... I never went into hospital."

Recalling her second attempt, the actress said she had tried to take her life by drinking paraffin after she lost a loved one.

"The second time I tried to kill myself I was 17 and I was going through a lot of pain. I had just lost a friend and I fought with my mom that morning... when she left for work I got into the toilet and drank paraffin."

Ntshangase's last attempt was when she was 24 and tried to overdose on Allergex pills.

She said her family had not heard of these incidents before.

"The third attempt I used pills again. I was in my twenties; I was 24. I remember the person I was dating at the time came to my place and got rid of the pills and we had a serious talk about it, but after that things got worse.

"I went through the worst depression... my family is not really aware of this," she shared.

Ntshangase shared tips to combat depression through practices such as meditating and journaling, which she said had helped her along the way.

She said she hoped that her story could somehow help another person survive their dark or suicidal period.

Sinazo Yolwa talks about life after Real Goboza

From slandering celebrities to helping them set the record straight, presenter and producer Sinazo Yolwa is tipping her hat to a show that has been a major part of her life for the past eight years.

Dubbing herself the "survivor", Yolwa prides herself for being the longest-running presenter to host the celebrity-driven gossip show Real Goboza (RGB).

While her time on the show has been an eventful one, Yolwa now plans to shift her focus to production and storytelling.
Seeing that you've just wrapped up your last episode of RGB, how are you feeling?

It hasn't settled in yet. Today still feels like another shoot day for me, it doesn't feel like the last one.

For the past eight years, every decision I made regarding my personal schedule rotated around the show... the show has been a very big part of my life.

When did you know that RGB was coming to an end?

We found out sometime during the lockdown last year but it wasn't a final decision. We had shut down for close to a year because of the pandemic. When they told us earlier this year that we could finally come back on set and shoot, we were then told that the show would be coming to an end in November.

It has been a bittersweet moment because I was very happy to be back doing something that I love but knowing at the back of my mind that it was going to be short-lived.

With RGB coming to an end, what's next for Sinazo Yolwa?

Knowing that the last shoot date is going to be on this date in November, I kept asking myself what I will then do with my life.

I still don't know what my next move is. I keep joking about retiring. If I do so, at least I'd retire at the top of my game!
But jokes aside, I'm planning on doing a lot more production work, although I can't talk about it now. People will probably see my name on a show one day.

South Africans excited by historic #IdolsSA all female semi final

Sunday's Idols SA semifinal will bring Mzansi a show they have never seen before, with a first all-female top three.

This after Karabo, Berry and S'22Kile outsang the best of Mzansi's talent to make it to this crucial stage.

Also for the first time, two of the top three contestants are returnees to the Idols SA stage, with Berry and Karabo who previously didn't make it past the open auditions stage having tried and failed to reach the live shows in the past.

Sadly, it was the end of the road for the last man standing, Kevin, who failed to gather enough of the eight million votes cast over the week to make it to the top 3.

Performing three songs each, the women tried to show viewers that not only do they have the talent but also the star power to convince the country that any one of them could be the 17th winner of Idols SA. 

Each of the contestants had their moment to shine, with Karabo wowing viewers during her first performance, in which she shared the stage with gospel great Lebo Sekgobela, singing Hallelujah Mdumiseni. 

Show judge Unathi Nkayi told Karabo that she was becoming more powerful weekly, while guest judge Judith Sephuma said the Idols SA hopeful was a versatile singer, and Randall Abrahams saying her performance was exceptional.

S'22Kile got rave reviews for not only her hunger to stay in the competition and the resulting hard work she had put in, but also her song choices.

Randall commended her decision to sing Amanda Black's Mina Nawe for the cover song segment and Unathi was pleased she had decided to sing Doja Cat's Woman.

Randall said their performance of Ayanda's hit Basuka was a great start to the show and he also commended her song choice for the trending hit segment Adele's Easy on Me.

Judith said she loved Berry's take of the Righteous Brothers' classic hit Unchained Melody.

Berry, Karabo and S'22Kile will spend the next week in Cape Town recording their first singles with Kalawa Jazmee Records.

#Makhadzi in R120 million deal

We can proudly say that the Ghanama hitmaker Makhadzi keeps soaring high in her career as she signed a R120 million deal with South Africa's newest apparel and footwear brand Kicks Sports Wear.

Inspired by the title of her latest album, the deal is called Kokovha.

The Limpopo-born star announced this on social media where she posted a snippet where she is seen at the
Kicks Sports Wear offices to sign the agreement.

She expressed how grateful she is for the opportunity and how she cannot wait to share more about the deal in the upcoming weeks.

"When God's timing is right everything falls into place, blessings come together, and dreams become reality. I am happy to announce that I have signed a R120m mega-deal called Kokovha with Kicks Sports Wear to develop and great amazing products that will reflect everything that I am and believe in," she said.

She went on to acknowledge Sammy Mhaule founder of Kicks Sports Wear, for believing in her.

Mhaule is an award-winning entrepreneur with a passion is for good sports apparel.

8-year-old Zimbabwean appointed brand ambassador in South Africa

Zimbabwean celebrity Madam Boss' daughter, Mikayla Munetsiwa, has been appointed brand ambassador for exclusive sneaker wear in Pretoria, South Africa.

The eight-year-old was officially unveiled as the brand ambassador for Ntwana Sneaker Wear on Tuesday. She was accompanied by her mother at the event.

She was given a Ntwana certificate as the company's way of appreciation.

She will be advertising the sneakers on her social media platforms and as the company's representative, she promised to open another branch in Zimbabwe early next year.

Speaking to H-Metro Entertainment & Lifestyle shortly after the event, Mikayla's father Ngoni Munetsiwa said they were elated as a family.

"I'm excited and proud as the father, manager and I'm also learning to support my kid at a tender age and I also appeal to all parents to support their kids' different talents," he said.

He however, said he also encouraged his daughter to concentrate on studies despite tasting fame at a tender age.

"Academic qualifications and talents are equally important nowadays," he added.
According to the representative of the brand, Mikayla made the grade and pledged to support young children.

"Ntwana is the message to the children, they are future leaders, they need to be groomed with love and support.

"Mikayla has massive influence to the kids as well as she is the most followed kid in Zimbabwean region so as in South Africa.

"We are honoured and grateful as a brand to have her as our first brand ambassador representing African kids," said the representative.

TV and radio personality Penny Lebyane gets emotional

TV AND radio personality Penny Lebyane has been working hard to get a flat tummy — eating clean and regularly exercising — but her doctor recently confirmed her problem is not typical stubborn belly fat.

Penny has always been vocal about her struggles to lose belly fat. However, she recently learnt why she's been having a hard time achieving the desired results, and she took to Instagram to share the news.

"Sadly with all that hard work at the gym l have finally got to learn why my tummy won't get flat. I'm told the more l do the stomach exercise it will get worse. My doctor says I have an umbilical hernia which will need repairing.

"I used to tease that l need tummy tuck. Well, it looks like l was right. Something needs to be tucked back in, I just didn't know until recently. l did everything to understand why the middle part of my tummy/ my core doesn't get stronger no matter what l do," she wrote.

An umbilical hernia creates a soft swelling or bulge near the navel. It occurs when part of the intestine protrudes through the umbilical opening in the abdominal muscles.

Penny said she tried everything for a flat tummy.

"I changed my eating, went on a gut healing journey with The Drip Bar gut coach because l understood the impact of depression, anxiety and stress on one's gut health. I did gut cleansing, totally removed red meat from my diet. Still nothing changed."

It was only when she considered other alternatives, like fat freezing and liposuction , was she told she needed to consider checking her hernia.

"l did more research and consulting for a tummy tuck and liposuction. Everyone said you need to check your hernia. Well, it's confirmed. l have an umbilical hernia, a birth defect many live with unknowingly and don't know it can be fixed."

"The thought of how l was so hard on my self about not being able to breathe in and hold my tummy in for years. I wish l knew earlier but it's never too late.
"Anyway it could have been worse. Looking at the best way to manage the next phase of this journey," she shared. — Times.

Olympian Oscar Pistorius day of reckoning

The pain and trauma of model Reeva Steenkamp's murder and former Paralympian Oscar Pistorius's prison term have been dragged back into the media spotlight, as it emerged that the "Blade Runner" has qualified to apply for parole.

After he was resentenced by the Supreme Court of Appeal for shooting Steenkamp through a locked toilet door, killing her, Pistorius would be eligible for early release in March 2023.

"And that is what Reeva's parents Barry and June Steenkamp have been mentally preparing themselves for all these years," their lawyer Tania Koen told Sowetan's sister publication Sunday Times Daily.

However, Pistorius had already served just over 500 days before the sentencing, which could be added to his time served.

"This means that he qualified to go before the parole board in July," she added.

The Steenkamps lost their only child Reeva on Valentine's Day in 2013. She was dating Pistorius and had stayed overnight at his upmarket Waterkloof home when, in the early hours of the morning, he shot her through a locked toilet door.

He claimed to have acted in the mistaken belief that she was an intruder and he was protecting her. The state alleged he shot her during a violent argument, in which Steenkamp locked herself away with her phone.

In 2015, the Supreme Court of Appeal overturned Pistorius's culpable homicide verdict and convicted him for murder and sentenced him to 13 years and five months in Atteridgeville Prison in Pretoria.

Koen said the correctional services department contacted the Steenkamps last month and invited them to participate in a victim-offender dialogue (VOD) before Pistorius's case could go before the parole board for a decision on his early release.

"Barry absolutely wants to speak to Oscar. I am not at liberty to disclose what the contents of that conversation will entail because of attorney-client privilege. But it is his right and something he wants."

Koen relayed the couple's desire for the dialogue to go ahead, and an appointment was made for correctional services officials to come to their home in East London. 

But two days before it was to happen, the Steenkamps were told due to budget problems correctional services was unable to send officials to their home, and the appointment was cancelled.

Miss South Africa will contest in #MissUniverse despite riding tension

Miss SA organisers are digging their heels in over Miss SA Lalela Mswane's participation in the 70th Miss Universe pageant, insisting she will participate in the event and dismissing allegations to the contrary as "completely unfounded and untrue".

Pressure is mounting for the beauty queen to withdraw from the pageant taking place in Eilat in Israel on December 12, with pro-Palestine supporters saying SA's participation was inexcusable.

Mandla Mandela also called for a boycott, saying Mswane should not attend the ceremony in Israel "in protest at the occupation and cruel treatment of Palestinians at the hands of the apartheid Israeli regime".

Miss SA organisers have previously defended her participation, saying the body was "not getting involved in a political war of words" but was instead looking forward to watching the recently crowned beauty queen represent the country on an international stage.

This was reiterated in a statement yesterday, in which the organisation's CEO Stephanie Weil refuted claims about Mswane's change of heart.

Instead, Weil insisted the pageant was "thrilled to be able to make Mswane's childhood dream — to wear the crown while representing her country globally — come true".

"SA was placed very firmly in the 21st century when Zozibini Tunzi, proudly wearing her natural hair without trying to conceal it under a weave or a wig, was crowned Miss Universe.

"Her refusal to bow to pressure to look a certain way was ground-breaking and opened the door to diversity and the rise of the individual as opposed to lookalikes," Weil said.

"Like her, Mswane will be a role model to young women, not just across the country, but across the African continent.

"Anyone who wants to rob Mswane of her moment in the spotlight is unkind and shortsighted. She is a shining beacon for young women everywhere, showing them that being beautiful while being clever and educated is very possible.

"We are not a political organisation and the Miss Universe pageant is not a politically inspired event."

Meet #Mzansi's new power couple! #RelationshipGoals

Reality shows offer a glimpse into people's lives. 

Like a fly-onthe-wall, the camera captures intimate moments in which viewers gain a perspective into each cast member's world. And it's the same in local series Izangoma Zodumo, where a trio of sangomas are out to dispel misconceptions surrounding their spiritual gift.

There's outspoken fan favourite Makgotso "Gogo Maweni" Makopo, who viewers met in season 1. Besides juggling motherhood and several business ventures that include an events management company, she's also a gobela – an instructor chosen by ancestors to guide and teach trainees to become sangomas.

Season 2 also introduces endearing couple Sabelo and Pearl Sifundza. Sabelo is a chief traditional healer, while Pearl a nurse and sangoma. "With no holds barred, we give viewers insight into our marriage and calling," says Sabelo, adding that he joined Izangoma
Zodumo to show viewers that sangomas are "normal people with normal lives".

"Pearl and I work together. We're hands-on parents to our three kids, and we love each other dearly. We've opened our home for the country to see that we're just like any other couple. We laugh together and we disagree, but we always make up," adds Sabelo.

SANGOMA STARS

A typical week at the Sifundza residence includes Sabelo and Pearl consulting with their clients. They perform rituals such as when they travelled with one of their initiates to a river for a spiritual cleanse. 

They hang out with their kids and, as Sabelo admits, the pair always makes time for each other. "My family is the key to my happiness, and I'm glad we can share our first TV experience together," explains the 36-year-old Sabelo.

DISMANTLING MYTHS

Pearl emphasises that some traditional healers are recognised health practitioners and they should, therefore, be treated as such. 

"To some extent, sangomas operate like general practitioners. They examine their clients, determine the diagnosis and, depending on the case, they give their clients medication with which they heal," explains the 35-year-old Pearl. 

She expands on the similarities that sangomas and doctors share: "We go through a process of training too. Although becoming a sangoma isn't university-based, it's a spiritual journey wherein we learn about the practise and in the end we have a graduation ceremony," she adds. 

"Some people are scared to consult with sangomas, and some only want to visit us at night when no one can see them because they aren't comfortable with people knowing that they go to sangomas. If people see that we are just like them, they can ease their fears and come to us without any misgivings."

Singer-actress Nokuthando Nqayi is back on screen dealing with #love issues

Love and romance are tough at the best of times. So, when your partner starts seeing someone else, it can be devastating, and few relationships survive. 

But, in some cases, an independent third party can help all those involved see things differently and, if all goes well, even meet each other halfway. 

That's exactly what Mzansi Magic's new reality show Face 2 Face aims to do – help couples and the controversial side chick or guy move forward.

Hosted by singer-actress Noluthando Nqayi – who's made a number of appearances in shows, including local drama series Home Affairs as Maki, and hosting three seasons of the reality show Keeping It Real – Face 2 Face aims not only to bring couples closer together but sometimes show the participants that they deserve better. 

"Some of these stories are not new, but it's how we deal with them. Most importantly, we need to value ourselves as human beings who are worthy," says Noluthando.

It's kill or be killed for Zola Nombona #Generations

Politics is an ugly business. But there's one man who takes the messy political game to a new level: Minister Walter Nkaba (Nimrod Nkosi), who's proven that he's willing to lie, cheat, steal and even murder to retain power. 

He once again finds himself at the centre of a tender scandal but, unlike his previous dodgy deals, this one leads to bloodshed.

Fortunately, intrepid Flying News investigative journalist Pamela (Zola Nombona) is on the case. She's been putting the squeeze on the minister since October in an effort to link him to multi-billion rand tender fraud and, late in October, the damning Nkaba article was published. 

"That story led to a formal investigation," Zola reminds us. But the article also dealt a devastating blow to Pamela when she was told her husband Siyanda (Kay Sibiya) had committed suicide.

Convinced that Nkaba had a hand in Siyanda's death, Pamela goes on a dangerous mission to expose the shady politician. And no threat from anyone could dissuade her. 

"She's relentless!" exclaims Zola. "The danger is thrilling for her." But is her character's grief perhaps blinding her from the true danger she's facing? "She knows exactly who she's dealing with, but she's gutsy and fearless," Zola assures us.

Woman now a criminal after paying admission of guilt fine by mistake #MonteCasino

A woman caught at Monte Casino in Fourways more than nine years ago and arrested on suspicion of trespassing has now discovered she has a criminal record.

Nila Milner was not allowed to visit Monte Casino or any other gambling institutions.

Milner told the Johannesburg High Court that she had done nothing wrong and was only in the vicinity of the casino, yet was made to pay a R300 admission of guilt fine.

It is not clear from the judgment by Judge LR Adams as to why exactly Milner was not allowed to visit casinos. But Milner asked the court to instruct the criminal record centre to remove her name from its records. She is also demanding her R300 back.

She said after her arrest in September 2012 near the casino, she was taken to Douglasdale police station.

Milner said she was "tricked" into admitting guilt and paying an admission of guilt fine. She did not at the time realise that this would result in her having a criminal record.

She only discovered seven years later, in 2019, that she was in fact now regarded as a criminal, as she had a criminal record for trespassing.

Milner said that after her arrest, "I was extremely nervous and concerned that I was going to be detained".

She said she decided to co-operate as far as possible with police as she just wanted to get home. "The policeman advised me that if I paid R300 I could go home and I would not have to sleep in the cells until the Monday.

"I had no idea what the R300 was for. The policeman promised that I would not be arrested and charged. If I paid the R300 I could go home."

Milner said she was never told that she was signing and paying an admission of guilt fine. "Once I paid the R300, the policeman did not give me a receipt and simply told me to leave."

The SAPS took her admission of guilt document to the Randburg Magistrate's Court the following Monday, where her guilt was confirmed as "she had admitted to it" in terms of the document.

Judge Adams ordered that the Randburg Magistrate's Court proceedings in which her admission of guilt was accepted, should be provided.

The court will then probe the circumstances under which Milner signed the admission of guilt.

Megan Thee Stallion inspires her fans after graduating

MEGAN THEE STALLION will soon be able to add the title of university graduate to her list of accolades.

The Texas-born rapper (26) recently announced she'll receive her undergraduate degree in health administration from Texas Southern University later this year.

Born Megan Pete, the star's dedication to her education was instilled in her by the matriarchs in her family – her mom and great-grandmother.

"Before my mom passed, she really would be on my butt about getting my degree. My greatgrandmother was always asking, 'You're going to get them papers?'"

Sadly, neither woman will get to see her graduate as they died in March 2019. Megan's mom, Holly Thomas, died of a brain tumour and her great-gran died just two weeks later.

Travis Scott stampede receives global media coverage. But what really happened?

At least two investigations, one of them criminal, were under way yesterday into a deadly stampede during rap star Travis Scott's Astroworld music festival that killed at least eight people and injured dozens in Houston.

Officials in Houston said autopsies on Friday's victims were being performed as soon as possible so their bodies could be returned to their families. 

The dead were young, Houston mayor Sylvester Turner told reporters at the weekend; two were aged 14 and 16, two were 21, another two were 23, with a seventh aged 27.

Harris County judge Lina Hildago called for an "objective, independent" investigation into the tragedy, as she spoke about the rap festival being attended by 50,000 fans when the stampede took place.

"Perhaps the plans were inadequate. Perhaps the plans were good but they weren't followed," Hildago said.

"The families of those who died, everybody affected, deserve answers."
In a 90-second video released on Twitter on Saturday, Scott said that while on stage, "I could just not imagine the severity of the situation". He described himself as "absolutely devastated" by the incident.

Houston city police chief Troy Finner said his department had opened a criminal investigation, with homicide and narcotics detectives following up on reports that somebody in the audience had been injecting people with drugs.

Beauty influencer makes her debut on #SABC

Beauty influencer and fashion stylist Tshiamo Modisane is making her acting debut with a groundbreaking non-binary character that will highlight LGBTQI+ representation on mainstream television.

Modisane has been cast in new SABC1 TV series African Dreams, portraying non-binary character Thabang Sithole.
She is content producer for the latest and final season of celebrity gossip show Real Goboza.

"I'm very excited, mostly because I've always seen myself behind the scene. Even though I've done a few acting cameos, having an actual character that appears in 13 episodes of the show is amazing. I believe that my character plays a very pivotal part on the show," Modisane says.

"I connected so much with the character that I had my boobs flattened. I tried to be as flat-chested as possible to pull off a convincing act."

Being in her 30s, Modisane had to research slang words used by Gen Z to match the character. Social media platform Twitter helped a lot with that.

"However, the thing I found easy to execute was bringing truth to my character's ambition seeing that I also implemented that in my career," Modisane says.

Modisane, who identifies as genderqueer, hopes that SA children, especially those in the LGBTQI+ community, will see themselves reflected in the character.

Njeza and Nosipho's toxic relationship on #Uzalo explained. #SouthAfricaBlog

Nosipho (Nompilo Maphumulo) finds herself in a position she never dreamt she'd be in: she's a battered woman and scared for her life. What started out as a few shoves at the end of September escalates into full-on abuse by the man she deeply loves Njeza (Nkanyiso Makhanya).

"The abuse goes from just threats to him choking her, kicking and slapping her until she has bruises on her face," reveals Nompilo. "Nosipho is in too deep and crazy in love with her man and she wants to cover up for him.

She doesn't want anybody to know what's happening between them. He's buying her make up to hide the bruises and she sees this as a gesture of love." 

But that changes when Njeza beats Nosipho to the point where she decides that she needs to buy a gun to protect herself from him…

SCARED & ALONE

Nosipho is growing increasingly worried that the next time Njeza hits her, she may die. "So the gun is there to shoot him and put a stop to the abuse," says Nompilo. "She doesn't want to go to the police, and she has no one that she can talk to about her problems." 

But before she can use it, Njeza – who was released from prison a year ago after serving time for killing his dad after the man had beaten Njeza's mom to death – begs her for forgiveness. He explains his family history in an effort to try make her understand his actions. 

"Njeza saw how his father dealt with his mother when she disrespected him. He beat her up to make her toe the line," explains Nkanyiso. So Njeza does the same to Nosipho…

Njeza feels that Nosipho deserves it, he thinks that disrespects him in public and in front of his family. "That makes him feel less of a man outside of their relationship," adds Nkanyiso.

Njeza begs Nosipho for forgiveness – again. "He really loves Nosipho, that's why he keeps going back to apologise to her, because he doesn't want to lose her. Njeza sees that he has a problem, but he doesn't know how to deal with it. He never got counselling for the trauma that he experienced with his father, so he never got a chance to deal with it," explains Nkanyiso.

'Skinfluencer' comfortable in her own skin! #GirlTalkZA

Mpoomy Ledwaba is breaking all stereotypes imposed on women by living loudly in her imperfections.

The 26-year-old, married to Brenden Praise from Idols SA, has embarked on a skin journey as one of Nivea's Skinfluencers. The group will learn, teach and engage women on skincare. 

Although she s now embracing 'that every part of herself, Ledwaba admits it has not always been the case.

"I was not always comfortable in my own skin. Fully loving and embracing my skin was and still is a journey that I'm vulnerable and comfortable with. I am comfortable with not always feeling great," Ledwaba says.

The mother of two experienced skin breakouts post-pregnancy. "My skin was a mess, I had to be intentional with the food I was eating, drinking lots of water, incorporating a routine and treatments," she says. 

"It's been important to recognise that as my hormones change so do my skin's needs. Taking care of my skin is something I've fallen in love with. Nothing beats being able to enjoy a make-up free day with a smile."

For Ledwaba, "beauty is freedom", meaning that one has to be free with their "unique beauty, in all shapes, sizes, textures and colours".

"I do believe beauty is skin deep. We could play around and say not really, but how you view yourself from the inside is what matters most. All other voices don't matter if you don't see or feel it."

She says the most important thing she aims to do is limit her stress levels and drink more water.

Nandi Dlepu gives women the thumbs up!

Anchored on a narrative that seeks to inspire creative women entrepreneurs and freelancers, co-founder of Bloom, strategist and curator Nandi Dlepu believes driving the right types of conversations to help women find growth in their business is key to elevating their chances in the creative space.

"Founding Bloom came from a personal need. About five years ago I was looking to leave advertising and I wanted to start my own business. I was looking for a platform that will kind of inspire and empower me on my journey. Although I found amazing female-led platforms, what was continuously missing, according to me, was that they focus on traditional careers quite often.

"The need for funding for a creative business is different compared to a traditional business. And, that's actually how Bloom started," Dlepu said.

"It was like, I'm looking for this 'thing'. I can't find it! Then I thought: 'I'm going to host a get together where women are going to talk about their journey, where we'd have some creative entrepreneurs come and talk about their journey'.

"I then urged people to sign up and we were over capacity I noticed that that need was mirrored by other women who were looking for the same kind of assistance for their business in the creative space."

Creating experiences to inspire creative females through conversations of "diversity of thought" and "women in leadership in the creative industry" was the order of the recent Women in Bloom event.

Celebrities rev up SUV challenge

The annual SUV Challenge is coming to KwaZulu-Natal this month.

Launched in 2018, the annual event has taken place in the Eastern Cape over the past few years.

The Challenge is a fusion of adventure with social responsibility, as it aims to promote road safety, travel and tourism, social cohesion and development in a fun way.

The KZN SUV Challenge tour will unfold over six days from October 18 to 23. The tour starts in Jozini where a road safety activation will be undertaken along the Jozini Interchange, aimed at encouraging behavioural change among motorists and road users at large.

"Since inception three years ago, the SUV Challenge has become a dominant feature in the calendars of adventure enthusiasts. What sets us apart is our ethos of responsible, impactful fun, said Siyavuya Mbete of Deep Sky Blue, founders of the SUV Challenge.

In line with its theme of impactful fun, the tour will entail a range of community outreach activations, including a major vaccination drive to encourage the public to get their Covid-19 vaccine, as well as address the issue of gender-based violence.

"Our line-up of community outreaches includes road safety awareness campaigns, sponsorship and motivational talks at rural schools, social cohesion activities, and a clean-up campaign," added Mbete.

Heritage sites to be visited along the tour route include the King Cetshwayo Capture Site, Isandlwana Battlefield, Kwakhangelamankengane Royal Palace, Nelson Mandela Capture Site and Isithumba Adventure Park.

#Tecno Spark 7 launched in South Africa. #MondayMotivation #PhoneReview

Mobile brand Tecno Mobile launched its latest offering, the Tecno Spark 7 Pro, last week. 

Available for sale in South Africa next month, it offers a 48MP Clear Triple Camera and a new Helio G80 chipset. 

The phone also has a 6.6-inch edge-to-edge display, complete with Super Night Mode. Stephen Ha, the general manager of Tecno Mobile, said the company was focused on what younger generations wanted from their smartphones. 

Mzansi's top celebrities party up a Heritage Day storm as #NescafeRicoffy turns 50. #SPEAKMZANSAY #MZANSAY #MondayMotivation

It was time to party as Nescafe RICOFFY celebrated turning 50 years old this week, at one of Joburg's hidden gem venues, the Hallmark House, that overlooks the beautiful skyline this city has to offer.

The 50th birthday party was attended by the who's who of Mzansi, and guests were serenaded with epic performances by legends, that one would otherwise have had to spend a fortune to see.

Imagine getting a front row seat to watch performances from global superstar Master KG, renowned duo Mafikizolo and even Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse, during a pandemic? A once in a lifetime experience.

Under the theme "Express your South Africanness", guests put their best foot forward in varying interpretations of what African Heritage means to them, creating a myriad colours and creativity that Mzansi is best known for.

Before being admitted to the party, guests were tested for Covid-19, but the regulations continued inside the venue, which made guests like myself feel more relaxed.

The party was hosted by multi-talented Jason Goliath and a string of celebrities adorned the top floor with actress Thembi Seete, who never seems to age a day in her life, dazzling in a red and floral top, and designer Gert Johan Coetzee joined the flaming red squad (which seemed to be the dominating colour) in a beautiful red short suit, with a white T-shirt and sneakers.

The Princess of Africa Yvonne Chaka-Chaka calmed the fiery situation with her elegant blue dress, Hotstix keeping it simple in black, and Mafikizolo duo Theo Kgosinkwe and Nhlanhla Nciza never disappointing with style. 

Nhlanhla shone bright in a pink tutu dress, while Theo kept it smart yet elegant in black.

And you know you've made it when even celebrities want to take a picture with you, right? The humble, and seemingly shy, Master KG was the centre of attention, as stars lined up to grab him for a quick snap. All he could do was smile and nod. Shame man!

The rest of the day, right into the early night, as the sun descended and caressed Johannesburg's buildings, giving off wonderful spring hues, performances continued and guests danced, all in celebration of a brand that has been a part of Mzanzi's heritage for 50 years. 

Ndlovu Youth Choir in #Disney adventure

The world has truly become an oyster for the Ndlovu Youth Choir, who are set to feature in a spectacular new Disney production in the US.

The choir made the announcement on its social media platforms on Thursday, much to the delight of fans.

"We are incredibly excited to announce that we are part of a cast of musicians from around the world that perform in Disney's new production, Harmonious.
"The show is one of the largest night-time spectaculars ever created for Disney Parks.

"We're youth from Moutse, Limpopo, and are now part of a global production in one of the biggest shows ever created. Dreams do come true."

According to Disney World, the nightly show kicks off on October 1 at Epcot theme park in Florida, US.

"The heart of the Epcot transformation comes to life with Harmonious, one of the largest night-time spectaculars ever created for Disney Parks.

"The show is a beautifully crafted medley of classic Disney music and visuals reinterpreted by a culturally diverse group of 240 artists.

"This magnificent new show brings to World Showcase Lagoon an innovative combination of floating giant screens, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics and lasers in a 360-degree view," Disney World said.

The choir's fans could hardly contain their excitement.

"Amazing! Congrats! Go show them what South African talent is all about!" one fan said.

"The world is now your oyster! What an opportunity," another said.