Times Square statue of black woman sparks some negative reactions; and more from around the world
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The Citizen
9 hours ago
- The Citizen
Kaya FM suspends Sold Phenduka pending an internal investigation
Before joining Kaya, Sol Phenduka had branched out into podcasting after being suspended by 5FM in 2015 for offensive comments. Kaya FM has suspended broadcaster Sol Phenduka with immediate effect. 'Kaya 959 confirms that presenter Sol Phenduka has been placed on suspension with immediate effect. This step has been taken pending the outcome of an internal process currently underway,' read a statement shared with The Citizen by Ian Bredenkamp, who handles PR for the station. When asked about the reason behind the suspension and its duration, Bredenkamp said they would release a follow-up statement 'once the internal process is concluded'. 'The station is committed to following due process, and no further details will be shared at this stage.' Sol Phenduka, whose real name is Solomzi Thandubuntu Phenduka, co-hosts the station's breakfast show Siz the World with Sizwe Dhlomo alongside sportscaster Mpho Maboi and newsreader Mfundo Mabalane. Sol Phenduka's manager hadn't responded to The Citizen's requests for an interview at the time of publishing. ALSO READ: Kaya defends Dineo's 'toxic' work behaviour citing 'rank' as the reason Sol on Kaya Sol Phenduka joined the Gauteng-based station in 2022 as co-host to Dineo Ranaka in the breakfast show as a traffic reporter. Before joining Kaya, the former Big Brother contestant had branched out into podcasting after being suspended by 5FM in 2015. His suspension on the national radio station came after he made offensive comments. The offensive comments he made were about the murders of the Van Breda family in Stellenbosch. The surviving member of the Van Breda family was then 16-year-old Marli van Breda. 'Sol referred to her survival as 'fresh' because she was the only person who can identify her killer,' read 5FM's statement at the time. 'His comments, which included him saying she was 'gorgeous' and that he would 'like to axe her out', but that he 'wouldn't X her', have been seen as insensitive, with social media accusing him of making jokes far too soon after such a tragic event.' The Van Breda family were victims of an axe attack. NOW READ: 'I just got fired from Kaya FM' – Dineo Ranaka
IOL News
11 hours ago
- IOL News
Owen Dean's journey from self-publishing struggles to literary success
Emeritus Professor Owen Dean, intellectual property lawyer and author, with his latest book Echoes of Injustice, which tells the true story behind the global hit 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' and the legal battle for Solomon Linda's heirs. Image: Supplies Emeritus Professor Owen Dean, a leading authority on intellectual property law and author of South Africa's standard textbook on copyright, has opened up about his decades-long journey as a writer, from self-publishing frustrations to finally securing a mainstream publisher for his latest book. Dean, who has written over 100 academic and legal articles since beginning his legal career in 1972, has also penned three books, each with deeply personal ties to his professional life. His first novel, The Summit Syndrome, drew from an astonishing plagiarism case he handled, which he describes as involving 'forgery, fraud, false evidence and even death threats.' Dean said he originally intended to publish the case as non-fiction but instead fictionalised it as a 'faction novel' to avoid possible defamation claims. 'When the time came to write the book, I decided that its explosive nature might expose me to a defamation claim. I therefore chose to write the story as a faction novel in which names and places were changed,' he explained. After South African publishers declined the manuscript in 2017, Dean turned to self-publishing with the US-based company AuthorHouse. But high pricing and limited marketing meant the book struggled to gain traction. 'Without concerted marketing the book failed to make much of an impact. I learned the lesson that publication without proper marketing is something of a lost cause,' Dean said. In 2024, Dean released a sequel, Reach for the Summit, which reimagined the case as if it had been published as a true-to-life account, leading to a defamation lawsuit within the story. Once again, traditional publishers rejected the manuscript, and Dean self-published it through Print on Demand. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading His third book, however, has marked a turning point. Echoes of Injustice, The True Story Behind the Epic Song 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' and of the Battle for Reparation tells the inside story of the landmark case Dean brought against Walt Disney Enterprises, securing royalties for the heirs of Solomon Linda, the composer of the iconic song. 'This story is a proper rags to riches fairy story with a happy outcome,' Dean said, though he added that Netflix's documentary distorted the facts. 'The book sets the record straight.' Unlike his previous works, Echoes of Injustice has been published and marketed by Juta, a major South African publishing house. 'Happily, the Lion book has been published by Juta and will be marketed by them. I am hopeful that this factor will lead to it enjoying success,' Dean said. Dean has participated in all three editions of the Indie Festival, which spotlight self-published authors. Reflecting on his experiences, he described the festival as invaluable. 'It gives exposure to your self-published book and introduces it to a receptive public. This compensates to some extent for the lack of a proper marketing campaign,' he said. He also noted the importance of the platform for fostering solidarity among writers. 'There is some comfort to be gained from realising that there are others in the same position as you are in securing publication of their books,' he added. But Dean was also critical of the traditional publishing industry.
IOL News
11 hours ago
- IOL News
Pearl Thusi, Happy Simelane, Penny to share their encounters on Netflix's 'Beauty and the Bester'
Actress, presenter and businesswoman Pearl Thusi is one of the South African figures who feature in Netflix's new true crime limited documentary series, "Beauty And The Bester". Image: Supplied Netflix has released the trailer for a new true crime limited documentary series, 'Beauty And The Bester'. The limited series chronicles the dramatic rise and fall of Dr. Nandipha Magudumana, a celebrated celebrity doctor whose involvement with convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester sent shockwaves across the nation. Friends and family open up in exclusive interviews, each trying to make sense of the strange and unsettling bond between a respected doctor and her convicted criminal partner, Bester. The trailer shows: actress, DJ, presenter and businesswoman Pearl Thusi, 'The Mommy Club' reality TV star and businesswoman Happy Simelane and broadcaster and multi-hyphenate personality Penny Lebyane. Penny Lebyane, a South African media personality, was among several local celebrities who visited Magudumana's Sandton-based beauty business Optimum Medical Aesthetics Solutions. Image: Supplied/Netflix Lebyane, a South African media personality, was among several local celebrities who unknowingly visited the practice of the criminally-accused skin doctor. She has previously been featured on Showmax's "Tracking Thabo Bester. Magudumana was the owner of Optimum Medical Aesthetics Solutions, a Sandton-based beauty business. Model and TV personality Thusi had an encounter with Bester, the 'Facebook Rapist,' in June 2011 and almost became one of his victims. Simelane previously shared her experience meeting the criminal and claimed she was almost trafficked by him. On Showmax's 'The Mommy Club', Simelane showed videos of their meeting where Bester asked her to 'find people producing luxury content'. Happy Simelane previously shared her experience meeting the criminal and claimed she was almost trafficked by him. Image: Supplied/Netflix Once revered as a successful businesswoman and social media influencer with a seemingly perfect life, Magudumana's meticulously crafted image began to crumble amidst suspicions of her role in Bester's elaborate prison escape and his clandestine double life. The three-part series delves into the events of late 2023 that captivated South Africa, leaving the public to ponder: how did one of the country's most admired women become embroiled in one of its most significant criminal scandals? From staged celebrity conferences and lavish living to the shocking escape of Thabo Bester from Mangaung Maximum Security Prison, it all began to unravel with one viral photo of the pair casually shopping at Sandton City, sparking a nationwide manhunt that ended with their dramatic arrest in Tanzania and extradition back to South Africa in handcuffs. Disgraced celebrated celebrity doctor Dr. Nandipha Magudumana's father Zolile Sekeleni features on the documentary. Image: Supplied/Netflix 'Beauty And The Bester' features courtroom footage and never-before-seen investigative material that peels back the layers of a story where love, manipulation, and corruption collide, culminating in a jaw-dropping incident that stunned the world. The individuals include Marecia Damons, one of the journalists who broke the story and Magudumana's father Zolile Sekeleni. 'Beauty and the Bester' launches on Netflix on September, 12, 2025.
