SABC bans interviews with new Idol, Khaya

Metro FM presenter and Idols judge Unathi Msengana confirmed yesterday that she was sent an e-mail on Monday by her station manager Martin Vilakazi instructing her not to do any interviews with the Idols winner or any competitor.

Gareth, Khaya and Unathi

"This morning [Wednesday] an instruction was personally given to me by my station manager not to interview Khaya. No explanation was given. I had to obey and ask no questions because he is my boss." Msengana said fellow Idols judge Gareth Cliff, who works for SABC's 5FM, received the same instructions

SA Idols spokeswoman Ingrid Lebinburg said that they do not know what is happening. Nobody from SABC said anything to them. “We are still waiting for them to come to us and explain."

SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago denied that the SABC sent an instruction like that. "This is not true and it is ridiculous. We did not issue instructions like that. To start with, Unathi is not even supposed to comment to the media. I am the SABC spokesperson."Secondly she is even conflicted by working on Idols when she works for SABC.

Khaya, after being announced
winner of Idols Season 8

Kganyago then confirmed that they decided that Unathi and Gareth do not interview Khaya because they were conflicted. Idols belong to another station and not the SABC. Kganyago said that there is no cross-promotional agreement between Idols and the SABC.

M-Net communications manager Lani Lombard confirmed that "scheduled interviews for the breakfast shows on 5FM and Metro FM were cancelled on Tuesday night". However, Khaya was interviewed on Metro FM on Wednesday night.

Kaizer Kganyago stories are all mixed up; he says this today and another thing tomorrow. Is it perhaps that the SABC are jealous that they have not been able to pull off such a popular event themselves?

Vibey SA

South Africa is one place full of vibe and great places to see…it definitely has something for everyone. If you love comedy then the comedy nights are there to provide you with that laughter you need, courtesy of some of the world’s best performers.

If gaming is what you do, then you have a whole lot of variety to choose from our wide range of casinos, for example: the Roman-themed Caesar’s Palace in Johannesburg or the awesome Grand West Casino in Cape Town.

There is a wide range of clubs, cafes and bars all over South Africa. The nightlife here rivals the best in the world and has a party vibe all on its own – with options that fit every person, budget and tastes. Dance, drum ‘n bass, classical or RnB, whichever melodies get you moving, you’ll definitely find them here.

Party vibes in SA:

Dockside Cape Town



The Dockside club in the mother
city, Cape Town.



Dockside Cape Town is the largest multi-purpose entertainment complex of its kind in South Africa and the whole of Africa Dockside Cape Town is situated in on the banks of the Century City water canal development. Aside from the phenomenal sound system, the main dance floor boasts an amazing 500 000 watt lasers and lighting system. The advanced level of technology at the Dockside club enables it to cater for any occasion or function. The club caters for at least five thousand people. State of the art sound, lighting and lasers, with the best of local and international DJs are what this club has in offer.

The amazing 500 000 watt
laser lights

Crafty South Africa

There is no doubt in my mind that South Africans are craft or crafting fanatics. People in South Africa produce remarkable ranges of arts and crafts. These people you’ll find on pavements and markets of big city streets – with every possible form of traditional artwork.

Hand-woven handbags

These forms of art range from pretty tableware, embroidered cloths, to the simplest of items like key rings and candle-holders. In addition to the standard materials such as beads, grass, leather, fabric and clay, pieces are made using telephone wire, cold drink cans, bottle tops, and plastic bags – you will even find tin labels being used to create brightly coloured papier mache bowls.

On sale from many a South African street are objects made of wire – representations of:

·         the globe,

·         cars and;

·          motorcycles.

Woven baskets

Markets, shops and collectives dealing in African craft thrive to provide much-needed employment and income to communities such as the Northern Cape Schmidtsdrift community of displaced San people, who specialise in producing paintings that constitute an imaginative and highly coloured extension of ancient rock art. Another community is the Fugitive’s Drift in KwaZulu-Natal, which offers a major variety in basketry.

There are several important collections of African art in South Africa, such as the Standard Bank collection at the Gertrude Posel Gallery at Wits University in Johannesburg, or the Durban Art Gallery.

At the Rooftop Market at Johannesburg's Rosebank Mall, and at its African Craft Market, work from all over the continent pushes for buyers' attention. Many merchants and organisations sell craft goods online.

South Africa - place full of entertainment opportunities



South Africa does not lack when it comes to entertainment opportunities. You will definitely find that entertainment fills every aspect of South African life that is reflected by its diverse culture, age groups and taste. When it comes to theatres, live music venues, cinemas, drive-in cinemas and nightclubs, then you’ll find that there’s no shortage.

For example:



Ballet lures people to performances at
the Market Theatre in Johannesburg



·         Johannesburg has more than its fair share of live music venues and theatres, the most famous are the Alhambra Theatre, the Civic Theatre and the Market Theatre (Newton Cultural Centre). Other attractions include the ‘living museum’, Gold Reef City and the Johannesburg Library’s Africana collection.

·         Cape Town has a number of excellent theatres and art cinemas, that including the Nico Theatre Centre, which is the performing arts centre in Cape Town. Another prominent theatre is the Maynardville Open Air Theatre which has Shakespeare season in January and ballet season in March, and the Labia Theatre specialises in the screening of art and festival films.

·         Grahamstown is a leading cultural and academic centre and home to Rhodes University, one of South Africa's’ top university institutions. Every year thousands of people travel to Grahamstown for the annual Standard Bank Arts Festival.

·         Durban’s centre of cultural life is the Natal Playhouse, the City Hall serves as a cultural venue for symphonic and choral concerts.

·         Bloemfontein’s main attraction is The Sand du Plessis theatre complex, not only for the shows and concerts but also the décor and art works displayed in the foyers.

Now this just shows how South Africa is serious about art and culture and not losing its roots.





Young people making way for themselves



Minenhle, the co-host presenter
on Mzansi Insider.

Minenhle Dlamini, born in Durban, won the role of the new Live presenter search in June 2010 and she took over from Phila Mazibuko and made her first public appearance for the show on Wednesday, 16 June 2010 at Moretele Park in Gauteng, when the show covered Youth Day and World Cup celebrations. In 2011 she joined the cast of the M-net Soapie, The Wild.

 Three days after learning about the sudden cancellation of the soapie, The Wild, Minenhle, also known as Minnie, confirmed that she is leaving SABC1’s Mzansi Insider, where she co-hosts the show with Phila Mazibuko.

Minnie, who plays Zintle Lebone on The Wild, denied that her career was crashing down – saying thatas a matter of fact, she is working on another programme with SABC1. She said that she can’t reveal too much about the show at the moment but “people must watch out because it is going to be 100% my personality, [the] Minnie that is not dictated to by anyone.”



Minnie at her 21st
birthday party in
2011.

Minnie, now also on Metro FM, recently co-hosted SABC1’s Live alongside Bonang Matheba and Sizwe Dlhomo. She also appeared on SABC1’s popular soapie, Generations. Minnie was then crowned the face of Legit in 2011. She launched her Minnie Series range to wide appeal and an overwhelmingly positive response

Minnie’s publicist, Pumza Nohashe, said: “We have been in talks with SABC1 since February and the public will see her many layers as a person, she will have more input on the show and its content.” Nohashe said the show would most likely hit our television screens by the end of the year.

Now it is very inspiring to see young females who are taking charge of their lives and trying out different career paths and actually succeeding in them (presenting, acting and being a radio dj).

Lack of communication and research equals to a total disaster!



Khanyi Mbau as Lebo
Mathosa



A musical written and directed by Sello Maake Ka-Ncube about the late Lebo Mathosa Drama Queen was expected to blow people away but in actual fact it was rather disappointing for those who attended. Many celebrities dressed to kill to attend the show’s gala opening at Pretoria’s State Theatre this past Tuesday night.

Khanyi Mbau and Sindi Nene were among the five lovely ladies who were on stage, but then tough critics said that while Khanyi was a great dancer, she couldn’t sing and Sindi sang beautifully but couldn’t dance. Boom Shaka member Thembi Seete said “I was so excited about the show, but it lacked a lot of truth and emotion and there seemed to be no research done about what really happened. The five girls are talented and beautiful, if they had come to us, we would have helped.”

Sindi Nene who is a
great singer but can't
dance...





One of Lebo’s closest friends said: “The producers could have researched more. The people who lived with Lebo are still alive, her spirit and soul was not on stage!” 3Sum member and socialite Amstel said: “I’m not happy at all about the show. Not that I wanted to be a part of it, but she was my friend and we could have told the story better. Not just anyone can play Lebo. The costumes were ridiculous, nothing like Lebo. All I saw was blonde weaves, I am not convinced at all!”When called for comment, Sello said: “I know where my shortfalls were and I am open to the Boom Shaka members Theo, Thembi and Junior helping out, but the only person I had contact with was Thembi. “People must just understand that it is just a start.”

It looks like Sello Maake Ka-Ncube did not communicate and research as much as he was supposed to with people who knew Lebo well and as a result a disastrous show.

Art - meant to PROVOKE

They say art is a form of self-expression and others say that art is meant to provoke. If that is the case, then Brett Murray’s controversial portrait, The Spear, certainly provoked many people.

The controversial painting
of  president Jacob Zuma

South African icon, Zakes Mda, spoke from the United States about The Spear, a career sharpened by apartheid censorship and the necessity of the art debate that was currently raging in South Africa. “Today of course you hear black people say naked bodies in art are against African culture. Which of the many African cultures? The shamefulness over the naked body is something that came with our Victorian colonisers. We can never go back to the old censorship in an age of the internet, but do you fear that self-censorship is heightened when work is attacked like this from all sides?”

The now defaced painting

Many people say and believe that the painting crossed the line between freedom of expression and the right to dignity, while some say that it is just art and Brett Murray was just practising his freedom of expression. Whatever the case may be, the painting went as far as causing division in the ANC and many of those saw the painting as offensive.

At the end of the day, the painting was defaced at the Goodman Gallery by those who thought the painting was offensive, but then people were still willing to buy the painting for R136 800, even in its defaced form. Now did Brett Murray go a little too far or was he within his right of self-expression and practising his talent? Now that’s a point where many fail to agree on.