Tuesday, 7 June 2016

Nyembezi Kunene (Photo by Gallo Images/Drum/Natalie Payne)

From Emzini Wezinsizwa to Generations and Scandal, Kunene will be missed.

South Africans woke up to the sad news of the passing of veteran actor Nyembezi Kunene, who last showcased his acting skills on local drama Scandal.

Who could forget his role as Macingwane on South Africa’s famous comedy show Emzini Wezinsizwa. On this show, featuring characters Mofokeng, Benson Chirwali, Magubane, James Mkhize and Sibeko, among others, Kunene played a character who was part of an apartheid-era security personnel team in charge of a male-only hostel.

He also played on South Africa’s popular soapie Generations, now Generations: The Legacy. He played the role of Malume Jabulani, a character who generally sought to bring peace whenever Sbusiso Dlomo, played by Menzi Ngubane, lost it.

Just about past Friday, he appeared on soapie drama Scandal. He played the role of Scelo’s uncle who returned after a long disappearance.

According to eNCA, Kunene died after a long illness. He had been in a hospital for a month but was transferred to Lesedi hospital in Soweto just two days before he died.

South Africans took to Twitter to mourn the fallen actor. Here’s what people had to say on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/NolenceMashego/status/739413235917524992

https://twitter.com/MbobyP/status/739411827226992641

https://twitter.com/gugulabazli/status/739404624789135360

Turkish President, King of Jordan to speak at Muhammad Ali's funeral

2016-06-06 21:11

Muhammad Ali. (AFP)

Louisville - The president of Turkey and king of Jordan joins the long line of world leaders, religious figures and superstars set to speak at Muhammad Ali's funeral on Friday.

Ali family spokesman Bob Gunnell announced funeral details at a news conference on Monday. California imam and scholar Zaid Shakir will preside over the service at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville.

Speaking at the funeral will be representatives of multiple faiths, including Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Mormonism and Catholicism. They will be followed by Ali's wife, Lonnie Ali, daughter Maryum Ali, actor Billy Crystal; sportscaster Bryant Gumbel, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and King Abdullah II of Jordan.

President Bill Clinton will deliver a eulogy.

The Dalai Lama was invited, but sent regrets that he will be unable to attend.

Wednesday, 1 June 2016

Smooth-talking sangoma makes man's life savings disappear

2016-06-01 11:02

(iStock)

Multimedia · User Galleries · News in PicturesSend us your pictures · Send us your stories

Durban - A smooth-talking Durban sangoma has been accused of being so convincing that he managed to persuade a man to quit his job and hand over his entire life savings – only to have it vanish.

The bizarre tale began when the 34-year-old man approached the sangoma after experiencing problems at work.

Reaction Unit South Africa spokesperson Prem Balram said the welder had initially met the traditional healer in the Verulam CBD last year.

"At the initial consultation, the sangoma claimed that the victim’s life was in danger as someone at his place of work had used traditional medicine which would make him sick and eventually result in his death.

"The sangoma instructed the victim that if he wanted to live, then he should leave work. He also questioned him [with] regards to the value of his provident fund," Balram said.

The man then resigned from his job in December last year and continued consulting the sangoma.

"On one visit, the sangoma showed the victim a large box filled with R100 notes. He explained that if the victim wanted he could convert R140 000 of his pension into R4m," Balram added.

The man then handed over the cash to the healer, who then allegedly put the money into a safe and handed the locked safe back to the victim.

The sangoma allegedly told the victim that he needed to keep the key and that the safe could only be opened this month when a series of rituals were complete.

"Yesterday, the victim attempted calling the sangoma, who informed him that he has been arrested and required R5 000 for bail. The victim realised that something was amiss. He loaded the safe, which was sealed in its original packaging, into his vehicle and drove to RUSA’s Verulam Operations Centre. Reaction Officers looked into the safe through small mounting holes and confirmed it to be empty.

"The victim claimed to have known that the safe was empty, but felt embarrassed to inform his family that he had been duped," Balram said.