By Nkhensani Mthombeni

• Shikombiso Bila built Maxelo Style from two balls of wool costing R50, into a brand shown at Seychelles Fashion Week.

• Bila was widely known as the Queen of Xibelani, for turning traditional wool skirts into modern, crochet-detailed high fashion pieces.

Shikombiso Bila, the founder of Maxelo Style and widely known as the Queen of Xibelani, has died. She passed away on Saturday, 19 September.

Her journey started small. While at university, she bought two balls of wool for R50 to make beanie hats for her toddler son, Maxelo. She posted them on Facebook, and requests for custom pieces followed.

Encouraged by her growing clientele, Bila left her IT internship to pursue the work full time. She launched Maxelo Style, named after her son.

Bila became known for her xibelani wool skirts and traditional Tsonga attire, worn by artists such as Sho Madjozi. Clients on TikTok and Instagram began calling her the Queen of Xibelani, a name that came to represent luxury Tsonga wear.

She was also called the girl who broke boundaries, for weaving intricate crochet work and modern silhouettes into traditional wool skirts, turning them into high fashion pieces sought after across South Africa.

Last year, she showcased her designs at Seychelles Fashion Week alongside other African designers, taking Tsonga culture onto an international stage.

She was born and raised in Nghezimane village, in the Malamulele area of Limpopo. Her mother Sibongile sold snacks at a local school, and her father Thomas worked as a welder. She had planned to start crocheting classes to help young people earn a living.

Tributes have poured in since her passing. Performer and MC Lance LightYear wrote on Facebook, “SHIKO was a force to be reckoned with in the fashion industry and such a beautiful light in her presence. She knew exactly who she was and understood that she was impacting the world, globally.”

Telly Modelling Agency, whose models wore her designs in Seychelles, also sent condolences. The Bila family has asked for privacy, and details of her funeral are not yet known.

Pictured above: Shikombiso Bila, founder of Maxelo Style.

Image source: Supplied

Compiled by Anita Dangazele

• The new Netflix show follows Anele and Bonelela Mgudlwa as they plan their big day and handle their public life.

• The couple married in a traditional Xhosa ceremony in April last year and will stream the journey in late 2026.

Anele Mdoda is taking her love story to Netflix. The radio and television personality will show fans what happened behind the scenes of her wedding.

She and her husband, Bonelela “Buzza James” Mgudlwa, are the stars of a new show called Stars & Vows: Anele and Buzza. The show will air later in 2026.

The couple got married in April 2025 in a traditional Xhosa ceremony. They finished their cultural marriage rites later that same year. Now, they are ready to share the planning and the pressure of their big day with the world.

The show will follow the couple as they build their relationship and plan their wedding while living in the public eye.

Anele confirmed the news on social media. She posted about the show to her fans.

“Okay Guys. You guys are getting the visuals,” she said.

Some fans are excited to see the Xhosa wedding on a big platform. Others think sharing a marriage on television is a bad idea. They warned the couple that other famous people had bad luck after filming their weddings.

Netflix said the show will launch later this year. They have not given a final release date yet.

Actress Nomzamo Mbatha helped create the show. She worked with Teddy Geldart, Vuyo Sowah and Pet Tasara. Pascual Wakefield is the director.

Two production companies, Dopezuluboi Productions and BrightFire Productions, worked together to make the series.

BrightFire Productions said the show celebrates the couple’s relationship. They said it shows a bold love story that does not follow normal rules.

Pictured above: Anele Mdoda and her husband Bonelela Mgudlwa.

Image source: Instagram

By Anita Dangazele

• DJ Lamiez Holworthy was rushed into emergency surgery after an ovarian cyst burst on National Women’s Day, 9 August.

• Doctors later diagnosed her with endometriosis, after she needed a second emergency operation for internal bleeding.

DJ and radio personality Lamiez Holworthy has revealed she nearly lost her life after an ovarian cyst burst while she was on her way to a gig on National Women’s Day.

Holworthy said she had been dealing with recurring cysts and severe pain for some time. Her doctor had told her she needed emergency surgery days earlier, but she asked to postpone it so she could honour her work commitments first.

On 9 August, the larger cyst, which had grown bigger than her womb, burst just minutes from her next show in Brits.

She was rushed into emergency surgery, where doctors found even more cysts and diagnosed her with endometriosis. Hours later, she was rushed back into theatre after developing internal bleeding, and needed a blood transfusion.

“I was so defeated and mostly upset at my body for allowing it to let this happen,” she said.

Holworthy used the experience to urge other women not to ignore their own pain.

“Ladies, if you experience abnormal period or back pains, please visit your nearest doctor. I nearly lost my life because I ignored mine and chose to put work first,” she said.

She noted that one in ten women live with ovarian cysts or endometriosis.

“Living with constant pain isn’t normal, nor is there any honour in working yourself to death. I learnt that the hard way.”

She also used her post to address cruel online speculation, including false claims that her hospitalisation was linked to a cosmetic procedure.

“There is no BBL that is leaking. There is no BBL to begin with,” she said, clarifying she’d had liposuction and body sculpting in 2021 with no complications since.

She spoke more broadly about the toll of online bullying, encouraging anyone struggling to seek support rather than take it out on others.

Holworthy has since been discharged and is recovering at home, supported by her husband, rapper Khuli Chana, and her family.

Pictured above: Lamiez Holworthy breaks silence after hospitalisation.

Image source: @Lamiez Holworthy Morule/Instagram

Listen to this article.

Compiled by Anita Dangazele

• A warrant of arrest has been issued for Molemo “Jub Jub” Maarohanye, after he missed his Germiston Magistrate’s Court appearance.

• The warrant will only be activated on 7 September, when he is due back in court on charges of kidnapping and discharging a firearm.

A warrant of arrest has been issued for media personality Molemo “Jub Jub” Maarohanye, after he failed to appear in the Germiston Magistrate’s Court on Monday. The warrant will only be activated on 7 September, when Maarohanye is next due in court.

Maarohanye faces charges of kidnapping, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and defeating the ends of justice, stemming from an incident in Edenvale in June.

Police say he confronted an e-hailing driver who had dropped his girlfriend at his home, accusing the driver of being romantically involved with her. According to police, he then forced the driver into a vehicle, prevented him from leaving, and fired a shot in his direction. The driver escaped unharmed and reported the incident at a nearby police station.

Maarohanye was arrested days after the incident and later released on R5,000 bail after an urgent High Court application.

The state maintains he pointed and discharged what appeared to be a firearm during the confrontation, and says a pellet gun was recovered from his home. His lawyer disputes that account. Maarohanye denies all the charges, describing them as fabricated.

This is not Maarohanye’s first serious legal case. He was convicted of culpable homicide in 2012 after a crash during illegal street racing killed four children, later reduced on appeal from an earlier murder conviction.

In 2023, he faced separate charges including rape and attempted murder brought by former partners; those charges were withdrawn by the National Prosecuting Authority in 2024, citing insufficient prospects of a successful prosecution.

Maarohanye currently hosts the reality show “Uyajola 9/9.”

Pictured above: A warrant of arrest has been issued for Molemo “Jub Jub” Maarohanye, after he failed to appear in court on charges of kidnapping and firing a gun at an e-hailing driver.

Image source:Jub Jub

This article has been updated.

By Anita Dangazele

• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly relocating to Britain this month with their two children, Archie and Lilibet.

• The move comes six years after the couple stepped down from royal duties and moved to the United States in 2020.

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, are planning to move back to Britain this month, six years after they stepped away from royal duties and relocated to the United States, according to reports from People magazine and The Telegraph.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly moving with their children, seven-year-old Prince Archie and five-year-old Princess Lilibet, from California to the UK for an extended stay. The children are expected to start school there in September. Neither Harry’s spokesperson nor Buckingham Palace has commented, though a source close to the couple confirmed the reports are accurate.

The Telegraph reports the family will not live in a royal residence and will remain non-working royals, as agreed with the late Queen Elizabeth when they stepped back in 2020.

Harry and Meghan married at Windsor Castle in 2018. Two years later, they announced they were stepping down from official royal duties and moved to Montecito, California, buying a 16-bedroom home reportedly worth $14.7 million.

Since then, the couple has been openly critical of the royal family in television interviews, a Netflix documentary, and Harry’s memoir, “Spare.” Their relationship with the royal family has been strained for years, though ties with King Charles have reportedly improved recently.

The two met briefly last September, and Charles saw his grandchildren for the first time since 2022 when the family visited Britain last month. Harry remains largely estranged from his brother, Prince William.

Their various media ventures in the US, including a Spotify podcast deal and a Netflix lifestyle show hosted by Meghan, produced mixed results.

“I think they didn’t achieve the superstar status they wanted,” said Dominic Patten, executive editor at Hollywood publication Deadline.com, though he noted the couple has kept public interest in their story regardless.

“He and Meghan have kept that flame aflutter.”

Pictured above: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, are planning to move back to Britain this month.

Image source: File

By Selloane Ntshonyane

• Johannesburg Zoo will charge only R22 per person on 22 August, compared with the usual R135 for adults and R81 for children and pensioners.

• Father Zolani Gumbi says the special could help his family of 10 enjoy the zoo without spending hundreds of rands just to get inside.

A trip to Johannesburg Zoo can cost a family hundreds of rands before they have even bought food or paid for transport.

But on Saturday, 22 August, visitors will need just R22 each to get through the gates.

The Johannesburg Zoo is offering the discounted entrance fee as part of its 122nd anniversary celebrations.

The R22 on the 22nd special started in March and gives visitors entry for R22 on the 22nd day of every month.

This month could be especially attractive to families because 22 August falls on a Saturday.

The normal entrance fee is R135 for an adult and R81 for children and senior citizens.

That makes the R22 special a big saving for families who want a day out but are watching every rand they spend.

Thanduxolo Mendrew, Managing Director of Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, said entertainment costs can make family outings difficult for many households.

He said the special gives residents who would normally struggle to afford a zoo visit the chance to enjoy a full day out without putting too much pressure on their family budgets.

For Zolani Gumbi, that saving could make a huge difference.

Gumbi has a family of 10, including his child, nieces and nephews.

He said the last time he considered taking everyone to the zoo, entrance fees alone would have cost R918.

With the special, entry for 10 people would cost just R220.

“It would make it easier because we are a family of 10, that’s including my child, nieces and nephews. So I won’t spend a lot when just spending R22 for entrance,” Gumbi said.

A family outing is already a major expense for him.

Gumbi said his family usually spends about R2,500 on a day out once food, games and transport are included.

The cheaper entrance fee therefore leaves more money for those other costs.

But Johannesburg Zoo says a visit is not only about entertainment.

Children can also use the day to learn about animals, nature and protecting the environment.

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo has an Environmental Education and Awareness Unit that works with schools and communities.

Its programmes teach people about protecting and conserving natural resources.

According to Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, the unit reaches more than 80,000 people every year.

The zoo also runs programmes including Zoo School and Zoo to You.

These programmes teach people about animals, conservation and the environment.

Zoo to You takes some of that learning directly into communities.

The zoo is also part of the global Reverse the Red movement, which works to prevent the disappearance of threatened species and protect nature.

Young people can also learn about possible careers.

During National Science Month in July, the zoo hosted 480 Grade 9 and Grade 12 learners.

The learners were introduced to environmental science, technology and other science related subjects.

They also received information about further studies after matric and possible career choices.

For families such as Gumbi’s, however, the first saving happens right at the gate.

Instead of paying hundreds of rands just to enter, a family can use the R22 special to spend a Saturday learning about animals and enjoying time together without the entrance fee eating deeply into the household budget.

Pictured above: Johannesburg Zoo is offering visitors R22 entry on 22 August as part of its 122nd anniversary celebrations.

Image source: Johannesburg Zoo

By Celani Sikhakhane

• Maskandi artists raised R200,000 through a WhatsApp group in less than a week to help the families bury Scebi Dlamini and Sipho Mchunu.

• Thousands of grieving fans travelled from several provinces to uMsinga to say goodbye to award-winning musician Scebi Dlamini at Mzisho Stadium.

Maskandi artists turned their grief into action after losing two of their own, raising R200,000 in less than a week to help give them fitting funerals.

The artists came together through a WhatsApp group following the deaths of award-winning musician Scebi “Inkosi yamaGcokama” Dlamini and his backup dancer Sipho “Gupta” Mchunu.

Their deaths shocked the maskandi community.

But before the families could face the financial burden of burying their loved ones alone, fellow artists stepped in.

They collected R200,000 among themselves to help make sure Scebi and Gupta received dignified send-offs.

The scale of that support was revealed at Scebi’s funeral at Mzisho Stadium in uMsinga in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands on Saturday.

Thousands of maskandi fans packed the venue to say their final goodbyes.

Some travelled from as far as the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the Free State to honour the musician.

Maskandi legend Thokozani Langa told mourners that the artists had shown the true meaning of ubuntu by coming together when two families needed them most.

“We need to thank the Maskandi artists for the unity they showed to Scebi and Gupta,” Langa said.

“When the news broke out about the death of Scebi and Gupta, we were all in shock but the artists quickly united and decided on an idea to arrange the funeral by collecting funds from each other to pay for the funeral in order to assist the families.”

Langa said the R200,000 came from the artists themselves.

“As you can see there is no government money that was involved here, it’s the artist who made this possible with the spirit of Ubuntu.”

He urged maskandi musicians to continue standing together during difficult times.

“I really applaud and appreciate all of you my brothers and sisters for such spirit and let us continue with this kind of support for each other during these difficult times,” he said.

Scebi and Gupta died following a horrific crash in eMpangeni in northern KwaZulu-Natal last weekend.

Scebi was travelling to the Basadi Let’s Dance event in Richards Bay when his Toyota double cab was involved in the crash.

The crash was said to have involved a Volkswagen Polo and several other vehicles.

Scebi died at the scene.

His other backup dancers were taken to a local hospital, where Gupta later died.

The tragedy also brought attention to Gupta’s family circumstances.

Maskandi fans who were touched by the poverty at his home donated hundreds of thousands of rands to help his family.

The outpouring of support showed how deeply the deaths had affected maskandi fans and musicians.

Content creators described Scebi’s funeral as a massive gathering, saying the event dominated social media and drew enormous public attention.

The artists’ decision to fund the funerals themselves also brought questions about government support for musicians and their families when artists die.

The Department of Sports, Arts and Culture and Minister Gayton McKenzie were not seen at the funeral.

McKenzie has separately faced criticism over more than R30-million reportedly spent around the Fifa World Cup on activations in North American cities, branding and delegations.

Scebi died while building the life his music career had made possible.

At the time of his death, he was putting the final touches on a double-storey mansion for his wife Mbali and their children in rural uMsinga.

His journey to maskandi stardom had started far away from the big stages and thousands of screaming fans.

Before becoming an award-winning musician, Scebi worked as a general worker at a Spar supermarket in Johannesburg.

He once said in an interview that he earned R3,500 from his job at Spar.

Then music began changing his life.

A single performance could earn him R15,000, more than four times his monthly supermarket salary.

The difference eventually convinced him to leave his permanent job and put his faith in his musical talent.

That gamble turned him into a maskandi superstar.

Years later, thousands travelled across provincial borders to stand together in uMsinga and mourn the man whose music had touched their lives.

And when Scebi and Gupta needed one final show of support, their fellow artists did not leave their families to carry the burden alone.

They opened their wallets, stood together and turned their shock and grief into R200,000 worth of ubuntu.

Pictured above: The funeral of award-winning maskandi artist Scebi “Inkosi yamaGcokama” Dlamini at Mzisho Stadium in uMsinga.

Image source: Facebook

By Celani Sikhakhane

• Julius Malema told traditional leaders at Queen Manyaku Thulare’s birthday that mineral wealth should create jobs and economic development for their communities.

• King Misuzulu kaZwelithini joined Queen Manyaku’s 74th birthday celebration, while the African National Congress honoured the Bapedi Queen with five cattle.

Queen Manyaku Thulare’s 74th birthday was more than a celebration of her life. It became a call for traditional leaders to fight for the wealth beneath their land.

The Bapedi Queen celebrated her birthday at Shepstone Gardens in Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon.

The celebration brought together traditional leaders, politicians, church leaders and business people.

Among the guests was Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema, who used the occasion to tell kings and queens that mineral wealth should benefit the people living on their land.

Malema said communities should see jobs and economic development from their natural resources.

He pointed to Sekhukhune, where the Bapedi land is rich in chrome, and argued that mining should have brought greater development to the area.

Malema said government involvement could help turn mineral rich areas into stronger economic centres.

He compared Sekhukhune with Johannesburg, Rustenburg and Kimberley, saying their development was closely linked to valuable minerals.

“Imagine with state intervention how much that place (Sekhukhune) could be developed? The City of Johannesburg, there’s nothing special about it, actually it is a desert with too much water underneath but it was made because of gold,” Malema said.

He said minerals and natural resources, rather than votes, were important to the development of cities.

“You discover gold in Johannesburg it must be a city, you discover platinum in Rustenburg it must be a city, you discover chrome in Sekhukhune it must be a city, you discover diamond in Kimberley it must be a city.”

Malema said Cape Town did not have the same mineral wealth but had natural resources that helped it develop.

He ended his message with a warning about poverty before wishing Queen Manyaku a happy birthday.

The celebration also honoured the Queen’s place in Bapedi history.

Queen Manyaku was described as a symbol of unity and as carrying the legacy of past Bapedi kings, including Sekhukhune I and Mampuru, who fought colonialism and refused to surrender their dignity.

The milestone celebration also brought together two royal houses with a long friendship.

Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini attended with his fourth wife, Queen Sihle kaMdluli of the eMashobeni Royal Palace.

Queen kaMdluli was praised for supporting King Misuzulu through family and personal challenges.

The Bapedi and Zulu monarchies have shared a friendship for many years.

After King Misuzulu took the throne, he renewed the relationship with Queen Manyaku.

Queen Manyaku has since attended several Zulu royal ceremonies, including the Reed Dance.

She took over the Bapedi throne following the death of her son, King Victor Thulare, in 2021.

The African National Congress also honoured the Queen during her birthday celebrations.

Party Secretary General Fikile Mbalula announced that the party was giving Queen Manyaku five cattle.

He said the cattle would be delivered to her royal palace.

For Queen Manyaku, the Johannesburg gathering celebrated 74 years of life, but the occasion also carried a message about the future of traditional communities and the wealth found on their land.

Pictured above: Bapedi Queen Manyaku Thulare celebrating her 74th birthday in style.

Image source: Economic Freedom Fighters Facebook

By Rorisang Modiba

• Tyla faced criticism after reposting a Pitchfork review that suggested she could fill the space left by Rihanna’s music break.

• The South African singer later deleted the repost and told critics the Rihanna comparison came from Pitchfork, not her.

Tyla has hit back at social media criticism after sharing a review that compared her to Rihanna.

The drama started after American music publication Pitchfork reviewed Tyla’s album and suggested Rihanna’s long break from music had created space for a new star.

The review said Tyla appeared ready to fill that space.

Pitchfork shared the review on X and Tyla’s account reposted it the following day.

She later deleted the repost, but screenshots had already spread and some social media users questioned why she had shared the comparison.

Others accused Tyla of relying on Rihanna comparisons and mocked her music after her album APOP spent one week on the Billboard 200 before dropping off the chart.

Some also called her a “one-hit wonder” because of the worldwide success of Water.

Tyla later responded on her Instagram Stories.

“Ya’ll know that’s not me,” she wrote, questioning why people were attacking her when Pitchfork had made the comparison.

It is not the first time Tyla’s social media activity has caused controversy.

In December 2025, her account reposted a post attacking Nicki Minaj before it was deleted. Tyla later suggested her account had been compromised.

Rihanna comparisons also surfaced after the 2026 Met Gala, when a video appeared to show Tyla hesitating before approaching the singer.

Tyla later said she did not want to interrupt Rihanna because she appeared busy and made it clear that she admired her.

Pictured above: Tyla.

Image source: Tyla/Instagram

By Rorisang Modiba

• Rural Zulu Girl posted personal comments about Lamiez Holworthy’s family, education and appearance on Instagram Stories.

• The attacks reopen a feud that started after social media users repeatedly compared the two women’s looks.

Rural Zulu Girl has reignited her social media feud with DJ Lamiez Holworthy.

The fashion content creator posted a series of personal attacks on Instagram Stories on 12 August.

Some of the comments appeared to target Lamiez’s family background.

“Being given the wrong father for 30 years can disturb the mind. It can cause delusions of grandeur!” Rural Zulu Girl wrote.

She then spoke about her own education, claiming she had graduated in Psychology and Psychiatry with “flying colours”.

She also said she “understands your kind” and claimed she did not “twerk” her way to success.

The attacks continued the following day.

Rural Zulu Girl criticised Lamiez’s appearance after the DJ attended Free State Fashion Week.

She also accused Lamiez of previously calling her an “old woman with ugly legs” and questioned why fans had supported those alleged comments.

“So, it’s okay when your fave body-shames me?” she wrote. “Don’t throw stones when you live in a glass house.”

The feud began after social media users noticed a resemblance between the two women.

Rural Zulu Girl later rejected being described as Lamiez’s lookalike, while Lamiez appeared more comfortable with fans making the comparison.

Pictured above: Rural Girl and Lamiez.

Image source: Rural Girl and Lamiez/Instagram