logo
Lerato Kganyago Ndlala on winning on Deal or No Deal: ‘The timing couldn't have been better'

Lerato Kganyago Ndlala on winning on Deal or No Deal: ‘The timing couldn't have been better'

The Citizen24-07-2025
Kganyago Ndlala won more than R62 000 on the TV show 'Deal or No Deal Celebrity'.
Lerato Kganyago Ndlala became the most recent winner on Deal or No Deal. Picture: leratokganyago/Instagram
Lerato Kganyago Ndlala bagged more than R62 000 on the TV show Deal or No Deal Celebrity for charity just before celebrating her birthday and says the timing couldn't have been better.
'The timing couldn't have been better. It felt like the universe was saying 'you're doing okay, keep going',' Kganyago-Ndlala told The Citizen.
Her winnings are for the Jumping Kids Prosthetic Fund, a non-profit organisation that provides prosthetic equipment and support to children with lower limb amputations or deficiencies.
'That moment on the show, and what it meant beyond the money, was the perfect start to my new year,' shared the media personality.
ALSO READ: Lerato Kganyago and husband book American R&B star Tank for Ndlala Mall launch
Kganyago-Ndlala using fame for good
Kganyago-Ndlala said she's watched the show and has found herself in the position of a couch-coach yelling to the screen, 'take the deal' or 'open the box'.
'Being on the show myself was a completely different experience though. I definitely had a few nerves, but the excitement quickly took over once I was on that stage. The energy was electric.'
Her win, which is R62 200, made her the biggest winner on the second season of the game show.
'I didn't walk in with a specific number in mind,' the Metro FM on-air personality shares.
'My goal was more about being present, and enjoying the experience, and trusting my instincts along the way. The win felt incredibly rewarding. It was more than I expected, and I walked away feeling proud of how I played the game.'
Kganyago-Ndlala said such initiatives give her a sense of fulfilment that she is using her fame for good.
'I've always felt that being in the public eye comes with responsibility. It's not just about the glitz and glam, it's about showing up for causes that matter,' she says.
'When I get to use my platform to create tangible change or bring awareness to something meaningful, it's deeply fulfilling. That's the kind of legacy I want to build.'
She said the work that Jumping Kids does is admirable.
'What they do to help children living with amputations live fuller, more active lives is simply incredible,' said the former Miss Soweto, and later Miss South Africa judge.
'I've always had a soft spot for children, youth development and anything that restores confidence in our kids. For me, it's not just about prosthetics, it's about giving children the freedom to dream, move and thrive.'
ALSO READ: Katlego Maboe says being in 'Deal or No Deal Celebrity' hot seat is a 'wild, wild experience'
Kganyago-Ndlala celebrating her birthday
Several people tagged her on social media as she celebrated her birthday earlier this week. She says it was beautiful as she kept it intimate, spending time with loved ones.
'I took a moment to reflect, give thanks, and really just embrace where I am in my journey. It was calm, meaningful and filled with everything that truly matters.'
NOW READ: PICS: Lerato Kganyago's husband shuts down Valentine's Day with his gift (again)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Need a laugh after a rough week? 'Shifting Gears' is the comic pit stop you deserve
Need a laugh after a rough week? 'Shifting Gears' is the comic pit stop you deserve

IOL News

time12 hours ago

  • IOL News

Need a laugh after a rough week? 'Shifting Gears' is the comic pit stop you deserve

The cast of 'Shifting Gears' tickle the funny bone. Image: Supplied It was one of those weeks where I wanted to just have a good laugh, and I found a sure-fire bet to do that - 'Shifting Gears' on Disney+. With Tim Allen ('Home Improvement) and Kat Dennings ('2 Broke Girls') heading the cast, it looked like the perfect vehicle to help me unwind. 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 ✕ In this frenzied binge-watching era, where you try and keep up with the deluge of content across several streaming platforms, not forgetting traditional TV offerings, it can drive you mad. This 10-part dysfunctional family comedy, following the traditional American blueprint, allows you to simply pause and enjoy. Look, it's not a trailblazing offering that flips the genre on its head. It's just a well-written, well-cast and side-splitting offering. Still grieving over his late wife, Matt Parker (Allen) keeps busy at his auto restoration shop. A stickler for details, he's not the easiest boss to his staff, Gabriel (Seann William Scott) and Stitch (Daryl 'Chill' Mitchell). However, his daily routine is disrupted by the return of his estranged daughter Riley (Dennings) and her children, son Carter (Maxwell Simkins) and daughter Georgia (Barrett Margolis). Kat Dennings as Riley and Tim Allen as her stubborn dad, Matt Parker, in the comedy, 'Shifting Gears'. Image: Supplied

Samthing Soweto on finally being able to open up to his fans on his new album
Samthing Soweto on finally being able to open up to his fans on his new album

The Citizen

time13 hours ago

  • The Citizen

Samthing Soweto on finally being able to open up to his fans on his new album

Samthing's previous albums have all been personal to some extent; however, this one takes listeners on a trip into his childhood. Samthing Soweto released his third studio album, Touch is a Move (Good Morning), a month ago, and unlike his previous work, this project lets his listeners into his world in ways he previously hadn't. 'If I was closed off, part of the reason is that I exist in a very tough industry and I felt that I had to. Now, if I'm opening up, it's only because I've found a way to deal with it. The best way to deal with it is to keep the main thing the main thing,' Samthing tells The Citizen. His previous albums have all been personal to some extent; however, this one takes listeners on a trip into his childhood in Soweto. ALSO READ: Samthing Soweto serenades fans with intimate Twitter Spaces performance Samthing closing off himself He says he was closed off because he didn't trust the industry as a whole. 'The music industry is a very tough place to be in. It's tough to exist and to be happy and to be open in an industry for an artist,' he says. With nearly two decades as a professional musician now, Samthing has somewhat found a balance in being able to exercise his artistry while also handling fame. 'I'm a very practical person and, as an artist, I feel like sometimes that is not expected of me,' he says. 'They actually expect me to be very artistic in everything, including my decisions and to be passionate and to just be propelled by 'the spirit'. And I do have my fair share of passions, but some of my creative decisions are not propelled by passion alone.' He says the element of entertainment has played a part in his decision to do this album now. 'They [decisions] are also propelled by wanting to make content that most people will like. Because there is nothing more painful than doing something for an audience and they don't resonate with it.' ALSO READ: Samthing Soweto's 'Isphithiphithi' makes Apple Music history An idealist with a practical outlook His above statement holds. Samthing came into the industry as a member of an a cappella group, The Soil. He then released music as part of a trio, The Fridge, and also released music as a solo artist. His music with The Fridge and his earlier solo work is the kind that a bohemian audience is fond of, not so much the widespread audience of Amapiano, which he instantly attracted when he released Isiphithiphithi in 2019. Songs like I'm Feeling Down and Dreamin' of U are worlds apart from hits like Lotto and Akulaleki. However, despite their sonic differences, Samthing's gentle, infectious voice and shrewd artistic genius are a mainstay in his music, regardless of the tempo or genre. If he were a cricketer, Samthing would be an all-rounder in the class of Jacques Kallis: lethal with the hits as a prime fast bowler and grounded in the art, as a purist Test batsman. 'I felt like telling a very practical story about my life would be very interesting for my audience. I do understand that I don't give them a lot to work with sometimes, I leave a lot to imagination.' 'So ja, I felt like maybe people might be interested in finding out what it felt like for me to be a five-year-old and to live my life at the time. To be honest, that's a story I often tell to people that are close to me.' ALSO READ: Mango Groove brings its 40th anniversary party to Jozi after an 'overwhelming' response in Cape Town Radio element Interludes in albums are nothing new, but for this album, Samthing roped in former Ukhozi FM radio drama producer Mpumelelo Ngidi. 'Through her help and her sitting down with me and understanding that I often talk about my past, she was able to build a version of my story for me that I could use in the music,' says Samthing. Through the seven interludes on the album, listeners are given a seat in the Mdolomba household. From the snoring of his uncle on Goodmorning, to him bickering with his sisters about wanting to watch TV, it is a world that his fans didn't know of. The most adorable of the skits on the album is probably Goodnight, where we're inside the family's nightly prayer. What makes it adorable and humorous is hearing a young Samthing listing his trivial prayer requests and his granny praying for everything and everyone that comes to her mind. 'I did have a granny who prayed long, who prayed about everything that we were going through in the 90s, from politics, to churches… everything and anything she knew about she would mention in the prayer. We'd start as the whole family praying together but for the next 15 minutes she'll go on by herself,' shares Samthing. ALSO READ: Wedding bells for Maskandi star Khuzani Mpungose A love album and a personal story He says the first draft of the interludes was to create a story based on love. 'Mpumelelo listened to the music and decided that she'd create a story about how these two [lovers] met. It was a nice telenovela type [of] story,' says the muso. 'How I did it was to reflect the connection between love stories of a man my age with my challenges, my life story my day-to-day and my past as a child.' 'The person that I am today is because of the things that happened in my past. Through her [Mpumelelo] help I was able to piece together a story that would make sense that could be used to marry the two concepts, a love album and a personal story.' His words are echoed by the eighth track on the album, Amagents, which is an ode to his daughter, where he warns her about some of the dangers of men – men who are like him. One of the better songs on the album, Ndandatho, is a song that Samthing heard being sung by a singer on TikTok, Sicelo, who is homeless. 'He came up with that song; I saw it on TikTok on a video. He was singing that song on the streets of Pietermaritzburg for money, he was basically basking. That melody never escaped me; from the time I heard it sounded amazing.' Sicelo is credited as the co-writer of the song, under his full name Sphelele Zondi. On the legal side of things, Samthing sourced the help of RAMS Attorneys. 'Samthing Soweto is a long-standing client of the firm,' RAMS Attorneys told The Citizen. RAMS Attorneys provided legal services to Samthing in negotiation and closing of agreements with producers, features, distributors, and publishing-related aspects. The firm didn't want to comment on the dispute between their client and DJ Maphorisa, where there were allegations of unpaid royalties, misrepresentation of contributions, and a lack of transparency in their working relationship regarding the song Amalanga Awafani. NOW READ: WATCH: Modise Sekgothe, a poet equipped in the exercise of digging deep and baring himself naked

From Times Square to the Vegas Strip: Nunurai Mudarikwa's unmissable US escapade
From Times Square to the Vegas Strip: Nunurai Mudarikwa's unmissable US escapade

IOL News

time16 hours ago

  • IOL News

From Times Square to the Vegas Strip: Nunurai Mudarikwa's unmissable US escapade

The Mommy Club's former cast mate, Nunurai Mudarikwa, in down town New York. Image: Instagram Nunurai Mudarikwa, a former cast member of the reality series "The Mommy Club", has delighted fans and followers by documenting her epic journey through some of America's most vibrant cities. Taking to TikTok, the talented florist shared glimpses of her travels, which included a thrilling stint in New York City before heading to Las Vegas for the grand finale of Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' tour. The tour, which showcased Beyoncé's much-anticipated eighth studio album, culminated in Las Vegas, drawing a star-studded crowd that featured the likes of Kerry Washington, Maya Rudolph, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Daniel Kaluuya. However, before joining the festivities of one of the entertainment capitals of the world, Mudarikwa soaked up the quintessential New York experience. Beginning her adventure, the former reality star checked into The Westin and made her way to Times Square, where the bright lights and bustling energy encapsulated the city's spirit. 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 Among her highlights was a visit to Madame Tussauds, where she indulged in some delightful photo opportunities. 'I stopped by Ichiran Noodles for the best ramen ever. I also stopped at Dunkin' to have my favourite drink, and after that, I went for a little Broadway show,' Mudarikwa enthusiastically shared. Her Broadway experience included attending the spectacular production of 'The Lion King,' which captivated her with its stunning visuals and powerful storytelling. Mudarikwa further explored New York's rich culinary landscape with a visit to Little Italy, sampling authentic Italian cuisine. She also reflected on a poignant visit to the 9/11 Memorial and embarked on a serene cruise to Staten Island, where she was treated to iconic views of the Statue of Liberty. The Las Vegas leg of her adventure primarily revolved around the 'Cowboy Carter' tour, solidifying Mudarikwa's whirlwind journey across two dynamic cities. As for Mudarikwa's future, she decided to step away from her reality TV commitments after two successful seasons, revealing that her decision was not made lightly. 'For me, 'The Mommy Club' was a great platform, but I gave it my all,' she explained. 'When the opportunity for another season came, I felt like I didn't align with their plans.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store