Star 2025-12-23

​“The cake is big enough for everyone to eat,” said media personality, television producer and popular YFM radio host Tulani “Tulz” Madala, explaining the philosophy behind his first amapiano single, iMali Ikhona. The track, whose title translates to “There is money or opportunity”, marks Madala’s official entry into the music industry and reflects his desire to create space for emerging talent. “The decision to drop this project comes from a genuine love for amapiano and a belief that our scene is brimming with incredible untapped talent,” Madala explained. “For too long, the industry has felt like a closed shop. I wanted to use my platform to prove that collaboration, not competition, is the future. iMali Ikhona is our way of saying: the opportunity is there, let’s build together.” The single…

Broadcaster and creative DJ Sabby, this year, is choosing a cosy, home-centred Christmas with his growing family. With the Christmas tree already up since mid-November and the house fully decked out in festive décor, DJ Sabby, real name Sabelo Mtshali, shared with IOL that this year feels extra special as it marks his daughter’s first “real” Christmas, one she’ll actually remember. DJ Sabby’s household has spent the last few festive seasons travelling across the country, with George becoming a firm family favourite, but 2025 called for something different. “It just felt right to be home,” he says, laughing about plans to eat out and return for dessert only. “Less dishes,” he adds, a festive philosophy many parents can relate to. After three years at the helm of Metro FM’s Breakfast…

It’s the most wonderful time of the year … until your favourite Christmas tune makes you press the accelerator a little too hard. From classic carols to modern holiday hits, some festive tracks have a sneaky way of turning a calm drive into a full-speed joyride. In Mzansi, holiday music and driving go hand in hand. Experts note that around 80% of adults have listened to AM/FM radio in the car in the past month, either as a driver or passenger. Add December road trips, traffic and last-minute year-end errands, and it’s easy to see why festive playlists become the soundtrack of the season. The issue lies in the BPM (beats per minute). Faster tracks can increase arousal, and driving-simulator studies show that fast-tempo music is linked with riskier driving…

In Cape Town, where the ocean meets golden sands, Msaki (Asanda Lusaseni Mvana) steps onto the stage, luminous and heartfelt. Known for genre-blending compositions and deep introspection, her music resonates deeply both locally and globally. It’s not just heard; it’s felt a balm weaving folk, jazz, electronic and house into something ethereal and grounding. Recently, after Msaki’s performance at the Corona Sunsets Summer Tour, our conversation explored her journey, art, and commitment to community and self-preservation. Her words, like her music, were poetic and reflective. The soundtrack of healing Msaki’s music is far more than entertainment; it’s an offering, an honest conversation with her audience. “I’m a broken person trying to sing myself better,” she told Independent Media Lifestyle. “We’re all meeting each other somewhere, bringing our wounds, our stories…

Deputy Executive Mayor of the Bitou Local Municipality, Nokuzola Kolwapi, has spoken out about the video circulating on social media showing her discharging a firearm during a celebration in the street, saying that there was no firearm present, and that the item in her hand is a toy-gun. Kolwapi, who is also the Ikhwezi Political Movement (IPM) President, released an official statement through the party’s social media, saying that the video was taken during the celebration marking the return of her son from ulwaluko – a sacred Xhosa initiation ceremony that marks the transition into manhood. “It is unfortunate that this moment has been used to score political points by the ANC and bogus so-called local community leaders.” ANC Victor Molosi Region spokesperson Moyisi Magalela said that they noted the…

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) has strongly rejected a proposed 4.1% salary increase for public office bearers for the 2025 and 2026 financial year, describing it as unjustifiable and “morally indefensible.” The proposal, recommended by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers and published in a government gazette this week, applies to the president, deputy president, cabinet ministers and deputy ministers. If approved, the president’s annual salary would increase by about R137 000 to approximately R3.4 million. The deputy president would receive just under R130 000 more, taking his salary to around R3.1m a year. Cabinet ministers would see an increase of about R110 000, raising their annual pay to roughly R2.8m, while deputy ministers would earn more than R2.3m per year. MK Party national spokesperson…