Latest news with #Ndwandwe
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Khabonina Qubeka on Shaka iLembe role: ‘My aim as an artist is to make you feel'
Qubeka says the hate she receives for the character is reminiscent of some fictional characters she also hated when watching TV. Actress Khabonina Qubeka has played her role as Queen Ntomazi so well on Shaka iLembe that viewers of the show have openly expressed their dislike for her. 'For me, the hate is energy. Love and hate, for me, are the same energy,' Qubeka tells The Citizen. lol 😂 personally I love You Bruuuu🤣❤️ — KHABONINA™ (@Khabonina_Q) July 27, 2025 Qubeka plays the role of Queen Mother in the Ndwandwe family. The Ndwandwes are antagonists on the show, with her character pulling strings in the background, all to strengthen her nation and her son's reign. ALSO READ: Wiseman Mncube on portraying King Zwide kaLanga in season 2 of Shaka iLembe Qubeka on being a villain She says the hate she receives for the character is reminiscent of some fictional characters she also hated when watching TV. 'When I was growing up, I used to watch The Bold and the Beautiful and Days of Our Lives. I used to hate Sheila [Carter] with all my heart. On Days of Our Lives, there was Sami [Brady],' shares Qubeka. She mentions The Game of Thrones' character King Joffrey, portrayed by Irish actor Jack Gleeson, as one of the villains she intensely despised. 'I never understood how this human being can be alive. Like, how can someone be so evil? So [the viewers' hate] took me back to the hate that I had for those people. It showed me that they [the actors] understood the assignment.' Qubeka's performance incites hatred, not just because of the script. It's in her villainous laugh, the striking look she gives her enemies, her decisiveness to go for what she wants and how unflinching she is despite being called a witch. Come tell me here you beauty 🫵🏾🥹 July 27, 2025 'My aim as an artist is to make you feel. I need you to feel something. The fact that they [viewers] feel this hate, I love that.' She says some people who have personally known her for years are sceptical about whether she gets up to Ntombazi's mischievous ways in real life. ALSO READ: From heartbreak to triumph: Amanda Seome's journey to starring in Shaka iLembe's Ndwandwe clan Preparing for the role Qubeka initially turned down the role because she couldn't speak the kind of Zulu you'd hear in KwaZulu-Natal. 'When you're an actress, there are some things that, of course, you can make it work, which I've done most of my career. But when this one came across, when I looked at the character, I imagined her speaking real isiZulu from KZN. I'm a girl from Orlando West.' 'But Angus [Gibson] said that there was something particular that we're looking for from you.' She decided to take the role after being assured that there would be language advisors to assist the cast with their dialogue. 'If you look at the actresses in this country that you know and love, all of us can play the character of Ntombazi. But what sets us apart are the decisions that we make for the character,' shares Qubeka. She says small details, like the character's mannerisms, are what build up the character. 'Because I'm a dancer and I also do Yoga, some of the movements and the posture I use are fuelled by my background as a dancer. There are ways that I would turn, and the director [Kathrine] understands that.' 'I had to imagine her [Ntombazi] when she was a young girl, what was she up to, what was she thinking about…what made her such a great witch and a great scientist. 'At the end of the day, she's a woman. What is this woman doing? She's protecting her nation, and at the same time, she's protecting her children. This is a woman like me. She just became extreme in how she was fighting for her kids, but she's a woman.' ALSO READ: 'Most are excited about the Shaka guy, in theatre I'm a different guy' – Calvin Ratladi after winning award Similarities with Ntombazi Qubeka has a foundation where she teaches young actors about how to carry themselves in the industry. Her approach to developing the next generation of actors is a trait she shares with her character, Queen Ntombazi, in that she is proactive and does not wait for things to happen. 'Actors are reacting, we are reacting. We don't get paid on time, we're not being paid our worth-and we are reacting to that. What are we actively doing?' She acknowledges the challenges of her industry, noting that they often struggle to plan their lives properly because they are only paid for their appearances. 'You can't do anything; you don't even have medical aid. You have a contract for three months; after those three months, it's over. A year later, if there's no gig that's coming in, you are screwed.' 'The most important thing that I'm teaching these kids is that it's not just about the script. Even if you get the script, you need to bring the script to life-you need to make decisions for the character.' 'To make a difference in the industry, I need to step out and make a difference,' she says, adding that she hasn't been part of any other production since shooting the current season of Shaka iLembe. 'Because my duty now is to make sure that we groom the next generation of actors. But these actors need to be different. They need to understand how to negotiate a contract; they need to understand what acting is, they need to understand being on time, they need to understand respecting the crew, decorum.' 'Things are not going to change if we keep complaining. When we start grooming the next generation, who are coming with a different mind, coming as full professionals, understanding the industry can be dark, but this is how you make the industry work.' NOW READ: 'I'm fed up': Simphiwe Dana accuses Nomzamo Mbatha of appropriating her hairstyle
The Citizen
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
uMkhanyakude District challenges intervention
uMkhanyakude District Municipality is challenging the intervention instituted by Cogta MEC Thualasizwe Buthelezi. This after Buthelezi placed the district municipality under administration and announced the appointment of Bamba Ndwandwe as administrator on Monday last week. Ndwandwe, a seasoned local government veteran, has extensive experience working with various municipalities across the province. According to Buthelezi, Ndwandwe assumed his duties on 1 July and will serve as the ministerial representative until December. ALSO READ: uMkhanyakude District Municipality challenges Cogta intervention Buthelezi also announced the initiation of a forensic investigation into allegations of corruption and maladministration that have been brought to his attention. This investigation, being conducted in terms of Section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act, aims to thoroughly examine the various allegations. The intervention will ensure officials are held accountable should any wrongdoing be uncovered by investigators. Buthelezi further urged the municipal leadership to fully co-operate with the administrator and investigators. 'This cooperation is crucial to ensure the challenges facing the municipality receive the urgent attention they deserve,' he said. 'Fight back' uMkhanyakude Speaker Solomon Mkhombo claims the intervention has something to do with next year's local elections. 'He is using his position to say he is providing intervention in the interest of good governance. We know he is a wolf pursuing his political interest. 'We have written two letters to him, praying for him to open an engagement opportunity. We are still waiting for his response, but if he is not willing, we will be left with only one choice: to challenge the matter in court. 'We feel a lot of constitutional rights have been violated, and cannot fold our arms while being bullied. 'He is bringing a Section 106 investigation and we will co-operate with that investigation, provided it does not push any political agenda,' he said. ALSO READ: uMkhanyakude, Zululand districts get update on bulk water supply project Mkhombo said they viewed the MEC's action as undermining the legitimate authority of elected councillors and the will of the electorate that placed them in office. 'We do not have any reason to cooperate with the administrator; we will continue to work on our own, because as far as we are concerned, all the triggers that were raised before have been resolved. 'The previous intervention lasted almost five years, from February 2021 to 30 April 2025. When the intervention lapsed in April, the MEC misrepresented facts to Council on the basis that the intervention had not lapsed or terminated. 'Council refuted his claim in a letter addressed to him,' said Mkhombo. He went on to say that they are gravely concerned about the 'premature, unnecessary and procedurally unfair intervention that disregards the autonomy and constitutional rights of the local government institution', adding that the current state of governance at uMkhanyakude 'does not warrant this drastic measure'. 'The intervention should be used as a last resort, only when all other avenues have been exhausted, and only when there is a clear and sustained failure by the council to fulfil its executive obligations. We firmly believe this threshold has not been met in this instance,' he said. Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Shaka iLembe is about to get ‘pretty wild', says Lifetime Achievement Award-winning director Angus Gibson
Gibson received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 12th Simon Mahunu Sabela Film and Television Awards in KZN. Gibson was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 12th Simon Mahunu Sabela Film and Television Awards in KwaZulu-Natal. Picture : Supplied Shaka iLembe creator and director Angus Gibson said he was pleased with the reaction to the second season of Shaka iLembe and shared that the season will get heated in the coming weeks. 'The season has been very warm. It's got a slow start, but this Sunday it kind of erupts. From the next few weeks, it's pretty wild,' Gibson told The Citizen. The second of Shaka iLembe is six episodes deep, and last night's episode was probably the most captivating as the Ndwandwe's plans to weaken Shaka's alliances took shape as King Dingiswayo finds himself captured by the Ndwandwe tribe, thanks to the queen mother's powerful potions that manipulated Dingiswayo, who Thembinkosi Mthembu portrays. ALSO READ: From heartbreak to triumph: Amanda Seome's journey to starring in Shaka iLembe's Ndwandwe clan Angus' Lifetime Achievement Award Gibson spoke to The Citizen at the 12th Simon Mahunu Sabela Film and Television Awards hosted this past weekend at the Durban ICC in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. In his acceptance speech, the renowned director said that when he made films in the 1980s, no one in South Africa watched them. However, alongside the late Tebogo Mahlatsi, he created the high school-based drama Yizo Yizo in the late 1990s. 'And suddenly people were watching. It was such a relief. What was really important for me was that the people we represented saw themselves and recognised themselves, and I didn't care whether people loved it or hated it. I was just happy that it was communicating and that they are watching,' he shared. Through Bomb Productions, which Gibson co-founded with Mahlatsi and producer Desiree Markgraaff, they have created popular TV shows, including Isibaya, Zone 14, and Shaka iLembe. 'For the last 12 years, at least, I've been engaged in this part of the world [KZN] by way of Isibaya, by way of Shaka iLembe. So, it is you guys that I want approval from. This kind of affirmation makes me happy,' the director said. ALSO READ: Real Housewives of Durban wins at the Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN film and TV awards Gibson scouts new talent at Sabela's The Simon Mabhunu Sabela Film and TV Awards celebrate talent from KZN and shine a spotlight on productions shot in the province. Gibson said one of the reasons he attends the Sabela awards is to spot new talent. 'I've been to these awards many times, and what always excites me is that it celebrates the beginners, the people that are hustling and making small things, and that's what interests me,' he said. 'I come here in search of new talent.' NOW READ: 'Umjolo' dominates Simon Mabhunu Sabela film and TV awards
IOL News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
KZN MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi faces lockout at UMkhanyakude District Municipality
KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi was forced to address councillors outside the locked gates of the Umkhanyakude District Municipality on Monday after senior municipal officials allegedly attempted to block his visit. According to a media statement released by the department, the MEC was 'compelled to instruct officials to break locks that were used in an attempt to prevent him from addressing councillors.' The MEC described the incident as a blatant act of obstruction by officials, including the Speaker and Municipal Manager of the Umkhanyakude District, who 'barricaded the entrance to the municipality' to stop him from fulfilling his constitutional responsibilities. Condemning their actions, Buthelezi said: 'This conduct is unacceptable and goes against the principles of good governance and accountability. I will not be deterred in carrying out my constitutional mandate.' With the doors to the municipal offices locked, the MEC held his meeting at the entrance of the building, where he informed councillors that the Provincial Executive Council had resolved to place the municipality under administration in terms of Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution. 'This section empowers the provincial government to appoint an administrator when a municipality fails to fulfil its duties of providing services to communities,' Buthelezi explained. He announced the appointment of Mr. Bamba Ndwandwe as the new administrator. 'Mr. Ndwandwe is a seasoned local government veteran with extensive experience working with various municipalities across the province,' the MEC said. Ndwandwe officially took office on 1 July. His immediate mandate is to stabilise the municipality and develop a 'comprehensive turnaround plan' to address the issues that led to the intervention. Buthelezi also revealed that a forensic investigation, authorised under Section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act, had been launched to probe allegations of corruption and maladministration. 'The investigation aims to thoroughly examine the various allegations, and officials will be held accountable should any wrongdoing be uncovered by the investigators,' he said. The MEC called on the absent municipal leadership to cooperate fully with both the administrator and investigators, stressing the importance of urgency. 'MEC Buthelezi reiterated his unwavering commitment to working collaboratively with all KZN Municipalities to ensure they effectively deliver services and prioritise the interests of their communities,' the department stated. Despite the confrontation, Buthelezi affirmed: 'The MEC remains undeterred and will continue to work in the best interests of the residents of the KwaZulu-Natal province.' THE MERCURY
IOL News
11-07-2025
- IOL News
Life sentence for Facebook rapist after State's successful appeal
Convicted Facebook rapist, Philani Ndwandwe, had his sentence escalated to a life term imprisonment by the Durban High Court after the State took his 2023 rape sentence on appeal. Image: File A convicted rapist who lured his unsuspecting Facebook victims with the promise of employment before raping them at knife-point recently had his 15-year sentence escalated to life imprisonment. Philani Ndwandwe was sentenced in the Durban High Court after the State took his 2023 rape sentence on appeal. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Natasha Ramkissoon-Kara, said Ndwandwe, between July 2018 and April 2020, engaged the complainants on Facebook and promised them employment. 'He would then meet each of the complainants at a specified location in the Amaoti and Congo areas, where he would accompany them further. En route, he would force them into a bush/roadside and rob them at knifepoint and rape them. Following his appearance in the Ntuzuma Magistrate's Court, Ndwandwe pleaded guilty to the five counts of rape and was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment on each count. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ 'Two of these rape counts attracted the minimum sentence of life imprisonment because one of the complainants was physically disabled and the other rape involved the infliction of grievous bodily harm. While the court did not find any substantial and compelling circumstances to deviate from the minimum sentence of life imprisonment, the court sentenced Ndwandwe to 15 years' imprisonment on each count (including the ones that attracted life imprisonment),' said Ramkissoon-Kara. Aggrieved by the sentences imposed on the two rape counts, which attracted the minimum sentence of life imprisonment, Chief Prosecutor of the Ntuzuma Cluster, Advocate Amy Kistnasamy, referred the matter to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in KwaZulu-Natal. 'Based on the merits, it was decided that the State would appeal the sentence. The State applied to the High Court for leave to appeal the sentences. This was granted,' said Ramkissoon-Kara. Representing the NPA, Advocate Kelvin Singh articulated the detrimental consequences faced by the victims, painting a vivid picture of the long-lasting trauma inflicted upon those affected. Singh argued that the trial court was obliged to impose life imprisonment in terms of the minimum sentencing legislation for those two counts of rape, where the minimum sentence of life was applicable. He told the court that the offences of rape violated the complainants' constitutional rights, including their rights to bodily integrity and humanity. Singh quoted cases from the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), where the court had increased an accused's sentence from six years' imprisonment to life imprisonment, asking that the appeal court employ the same principle in Ndwandwe's matter. 'Further quoting the SCA, Singh mentioned that rape is one of the most invasive and horrendous criminal acts, and that despite the minimum sentencing legislation, this crime is at unprecedented high levels in South Africa,' said Ramkissoon-Kara. The Durban High Court agreed with the State's argument, setting aside the 15 years' imprisonment imposed on the two counts of rape and replacing them with life imprisonment. The court highlighted the violence used on the complainants, the premeditation involved, and the seriousness of gender-based violence as part of its judgment.
