Star 2023-12-28

While the cheesecake saga claimed the title of one of the biggest scandals last year, this year has also witnessed its fair share of drama. Samas cancellation at the 11th hour The multimillion-rand South African Music Awards (Samas), originally scheduled for November in Durban, faced criticism when allegations surfaced that the KZN Edtea planned to spend R28 million on the event. Given the turn of events, Sihle Mavuso shared on X that KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs, Siboniso Duma, announced the cancellation of the awards in response to the outcry over the proposed expenditure. Duma, at a Durban press conference, clarified that the decision followed extensive consultations with stakeholders, but he denied the R28m figure. The Samas organisers, in a statement, criticised the awards being labelled…

RAPPER Cardi B and Offset are being sued for trashing their rented Los Angeles home. The Bodak Yellow hitmaker confirmed earlier this month she had split from Offset. Her estranged spouse moved into the property in early 2020 and lived there with their two children, Kulture, five, and two-year-old Wave, for “approximately 20 months”, and they are now being sued by their former landlord for unpaid rent, utility fees and “significant property damage” to the abode. According to documents obtained by RadarOnline.com, the pair allegedly “vacated the home without notice” in October, having “failed to pay rent and utilities for a period of time”. The company, Rapkin and Associates, are looking to reclaim that money, as well as receive damages to compensate for “permanent stains and scratches” on the…

ACTOR Vin Diesel, 56, has “categorically denied” the sexual battery allegations made by his former assistant. The Fast and the Furious actor is being sued by Asta Jonasson, who alleged the star “molested her body” in his suite at the St Regis hotel in Atlanta in September 2010, but his lawyer has branded the claims “outlandish”. Bryan Freedman told Variety in a statement: “Let me be very clear Vin Diesel categorically denies this claim in its entirety. This is the first he has ever heard about this more than 13-year-old claim made by a purportedly nine-day employee. There is clear evidence which completely refutes these outlandish allegations.” In a complaint filed by Jonasson in Los Angeles and obtained by Vanity Fair magazine, the ex-employee claimed Diesel invited her to his…

Accused (S1) M-Net, DStv channel 101 at 8pm When all her attempts to discover the identity of her biological father hit roadblocks, a teenager takes extreme measures to uncover the truth. Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby (S5) BBC Lifestyle, DStv channel 119 at 7.59pm In Scotland, Monica Galetti and Rob Rinder discover Glenapp Castle, where guests are treated to a magical stay made possible by a dedicated team of local staff. Monica and Rob are put to work collecting home-grown vegetables for the kitchens. Devil’s Canyon (S4) Discovery, DStv channel 121 at 8pm John's mining plans are derailed when a tree crushes his shelter; Ben discovers the best dig site he's ever seen, but needs fresh meat to mine it; Boyce's only shot at gold leaves him with dire…

Former ANC president Jacob Zuma has remained resolute in his decision not to campaign nor vote for the ANC in the general elections next year. This comes after the ANC’s Veterans League (ANCVL) accused Zuma of de-campaigning the ruling party. In a media statement this week, the league said the calibre of candidates nominated would be an important factor in helping the ANC remain in power. On Tuesday, a defiant Zuma addressed an uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party event in Verulam, north of Durban. He urged people to join him as he campaigned for the recently registered party. Zuma said leaders, including those of the ruling party, had turned their backs on the citizens and become thieves. “I will not say much at the moment. I will speak a bit…

Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga revealed that more than 700 people have died on South African roads since the beginning of December, citing human conduct as the leading cause. As many continue to travel to different destinations for December festivities, Chikunga voiced concerns about many issues that contribute to fatalities, including driving under the influence, speeding, driving cars not fit for the road, and driving without a legal licence. It is revealed that Gauteng had the most crashes (148), KwaZulu-Natal had 138, the Eastern Cape 99, Mpumalanga 77, and the Free State 63. Limpopo had 59 crashes, the Western Cape 57, the North West 50, and the Northern Cape 25. The Road Traffic Management Corporation revealed that it has been glaringly obvious that those fatal crashes start increasing after hours, from…