29 September 2026

"Happy Birthday my boy...I love you!" - Media personality Pearl Modiadie throws son a soccer-themed birthday celebration

Photo Credit: Instagram/pearlmodiadie

Johannesburg - Media personality Pearl Modiadie recently threw a lavish soccer-themed birthday party for her six-year-old son, Lewatle, whom she shares with her former partner, french businessman Nathaniel Oppenheimer.

The separated pair gave birth to their son on the 18th of September 2020 and shortly thereafter announced their break-up.

The actress took to Instagram in a series of posts to lavish her timeline with cute photos of her first born son to her 3.9 million followers.

Also Read: 'Happy anniversary!' - Thabsie celebrates 10 years with hubby

"6 years of loving you and what a privilege it has been," she said.

"Happy Birthday my boy. I love you more than you’ll ever know," said the TV presenter.

The host of SABC 1's family friendly TV talk show Zaziwa said that her son had requested a soccer-themed birthday party.

"When your 6-year-old requests a soccer-themed birthday party, you make it happen," she said.

She later wrote a lenghty heartfelt letter to her son with shared snapshots of the son's father and her own father in a family portrait that reveals their amicable co-parenting since their separation.

"My boy, you are so deeply loved. By Mommy and Daddy, by your family, by our friends and by all the beautiful people who continue to show up for you.

"Six years of you has given us so much to celebrate... you owned your special day and seeing you happy made my heart even happier. May your life always be full...6 beautiful years of loving you and you’ve been the greatest joy of my life," she said.

28 September 2026

"Spotty - Inja ye Game!!!" - Bontle Modiselle-Moloi wins The Masked Singer SA season 3

Photo Credit: Instagram/bontle.modiselle

Johannesburg - Multi-disciplinary artist and renowned choreographer Bontle Moloi née Modiselle took over as the latest winner of The Masked Singer South Africa season three this past Saturday as "Spotty the Dog".

The family friendly TV show aired on SABC 2 every Saturday evenings at 19:00 pm with rebroadcasts on SABC 1 and SABC 2 under the local production house Rose & Oaks Media.

The multi-skilled dancer took to Instagram to write a lengthy letter of gratitude to her co-contenders - 2nd runner up Mzwakhe "Robot Boii" Mbuli Jr. as "Mosquito", 3rd place was acclaimed Jazz singer Judith Sephuma as "Gogga" and in fourth place came in actress Khanyi Mbau as "Chopsticks".

 She also went on to thank the production team behind the popular TV show.

"Spotty - Inja ye Game!!!" she said.

Also Read: 'I am beyond grateful!' - Brandy Norwood honoured with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star

"Maaan, staying tight lipped about one of the best things to happen to me is wild! The perfect word to describe what Masked Singer SA and ‘Spotty’ meant to me is liberation!" said the elated media personality about her coveted win.

She continued to thank the local producers who brought The Masked Singer franchise to South Africa - 947's Anele Mgudlwa née Mdoda and her business partners, Frankie Du Toit and Paul Buys through their local production house, Rose and Oaks Media.

"@zintathu (Anele Mgudlwa) @frankiefire (Frankie Du Toit) @roseandoaksmedia - you are the best to ever do it. Your brilliance, your innovation, elevation, immaculate attention to detail and bottomless well of creativity? Unmatched.

Also Read: 'God did a thing!' - Lamiez Holworthy wins at Glamour Women of The Year Awards 2025

"Thank you for using your genius on me and my fellow cast mates. You took a chance on us, Thank you. This was more personal for everyone in those masks than we realised," she said.

The post garnered cheerful reactions from fellow media personalities who were only too happy to wish her well and congratulate her for her win including Zanele Potelwa, Khanyi Mbau, her eldest sister Refilwe Modiselle, Nomuzi Mabena, Moshe Ndiki, Londie London and more.

She joins the previous winners of The Masked Singer South Africa who are renowned House music singer Holly Rey as "Lollipop" in season one and award-winning actor Warren Masemola as "Giraffe" in season two.

25 September 2026

"I have finally received my newest SAMA!" - Simphiwe Dana & Thandiswa Mazwai jointly honoured with the inaugural Gallo Renaissance Award

Photo Credit: Instagram/simphiwedana

Johannesburg - Two iconic award-winning artists were jointly honoured on a magical night of honouring women who have walked strides in achieving milestones in an industry that is predominantly male saturated.

Simphiwe Dana and Thandiswa Mazwai were honoured with the prestigious Gallo Renaissance Award at the 5th annual Basadi in Music Awards at the Joburg Theatre, recently.

The Basadi in Music Awards (BIMA) are an annual South African event launched in 2022 to honour, celebrate, and elevate women across the music and entertainment industry.

Dana took to Instagram in a lengthy letter to show off her "newest" accolade and emphasise the plight that women are facing in South Africa "and many parts of the world" amidst the rise of gender-based violence (GBV).

Also Read: “Simphiwe Dana and Thandiswa Mazwai embody everything! seasoned artists receive a Gallo accolade

"I have finally received my newest South African Music Award," she said.

"During a dark period for women in my country, South Africa - and many parts of the world. Many of us are victims....I respect artists that speak out. We need them....I’ve been speaking about GBV for more than 2 decades. What the causes are … and what we can do to dissuade it. I’ve been met with so much vitriol that I’m amazed I’m still alive as someone who takes everything to heart," said the seasoned artist.

Her co-receipient of the same award, multi-award winning artist Thandiswa Mazwai was also celebrated from her pioneering years with Bongo Muffin to her acclaimed solo career that began at Gallo Music Africa.

Photo Credit:Instagram/thandiswamazwai

"The Gallo Renaissance Award proudly honours Thandiswa Mazwai, whose groundbreaking career has redefined contemporary African music. From her pioneering years with Bongo Muffin to her acclaimed solo career that began at Gallo, she has remained unapologetically authentic while celebrating African identity through her artistry.

"As Gallo Music marks its 100-year legacy, we celebrate a woman whose voice, vision and fearless creativity continue to inspire generations across Africa and the world," said Africa's oldest and longest-running independent record label.

 The Basadi In Music Awards were founded by entertainment entrepreneur Sony Modise as a way of shining a spotlight on female singers, rappers, DJs, producers, composers, and behind-the-scenes creatives.

08 September 2026

"He told me he thought she was just playing!" - The late Anele Tembe's inquest resumes in court

 

Photo Credit: Facebook/Tini Premiere

Johannesburg - New information surrounding the late Anele Tembe's death has re-surfaced at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court recently.

The new information comes amidst an official, legal inquiry conducted to determine the cause and circumstances surrounding the late culinary chef's untimely death.

According to The Citizen, Tembe was only 22-years-old when she tragically died on the 11th of April 2021 after falling from the tenth floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town, where she had been staying with her then fiancé, the late rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes.

The publication reports that two police officers had entered the hotel to establish what had happened after being alerted of the incident moments later.

Also Read: 'Long live Supa Mega!' - J-Something performs tribute acoustic version of AKA's Congratulate hit to fans

The two officers were initially taken to room 105, where they found Forbes and members of his entourage, instead of room 104, which was the room that had been occupied by the couple at the time of the incident.

According to one of the testimonies given in court, Forbes told one of the police officers that he and Tembe had argued earlier that morning and his fiancé had threatened to jump off the hotel's building during their heated altercation.

The subpoenaed officer who gave his testimony told the court that the late rapper had told him that he had thought that his late fiancée "was just playing" by threatening to jump off the hotel's building.

"He told me he thought she was just playing. 

"She was not going to jump because she tried that before in Durban.

"Maybe he thought it was going to be the same," said the officer.

A second officer indicated that Forbes appeared “fine” and was not crying following his fiancée's death.

Also Read: 'I had about 5000 trolls...attacking me!' - Melinda Ferguson reveals reaction from social media after publishing AKA and Anele book

Images of the heated altercation were caught by the hotel's CCTV footage and soon filled social media timelines with alleged rumours of substance abuse in their high profile relationship.

According to The Mail & Guardian the manager of the Pepperclub Hotel told the court that he was alerted that someone had fallen from the building and subsequently became involved in the hotel’s response to the incident. 

He testified that, after Tembe’s fateful fall, Forbes and members of his entourage ordered alcohol from the hotel which he said that he instructed his staff not to fulfil the order because he considered it inappropriate given what had happened. 

The inquest has now been postponed to the 19th of October 2026 for more further testimonies.

The late award-wining Hip Hop rapper and his late fiancee's relationship has long been a subject of tabloid fodder during their lifetimes together.

04 September 2026

‘I just really wanted to end it’: Nandipha Mbatha opens up about suicide attempts

Photo Credit: Instagram/nandii_m

Johanneburg- Popular actress and model Nandipha Mbatha recently opened up about her mental health on the Until All Are Found podcast.

 The podcast is a Christian community and gathering focused on prayer,fellowship, and sharing faith testimonies.

She  revealed that she had attempted to take her own life several times.

"I went through so many things like depression and anxiety, and I was about to take my life. I had been trying for a very long time," she said.

The model and actress said depression and anxiety took away her joy when she was supposed to be happy, but her faith saved her.

"I was at a point where I was just tired, and I just really wanted to end it all because I was supposed to be happy but I wasn’t happy," she said.

"I saw Jesus in my apartment that night," said the actress.

"He said, ‘I know that you’re suffering right now, and I can see everything that you’re going through, but I cannot take it away from you right now because I need to use it, but you will be okay," said the former Isithembiso actress.

"I just knew in my heart that after I get baptised I will no longer suffer with anxiety and depression.

"Believe that Jesus is able to set you free from whatever you’re going through.

"If there’s anything that you’re struggling with, you can run to him, and he’ll save you from it because that is my testimony. That’s what he did for me," she said.