Internationally acclaimed actress Connie Chiume has passed away after being admitted to hospital.

Connie, famously known for her roles in Gomora, Black Panther, Black is King, Zone 14 and Gomora, has passed away at the age of 72. A recent post shared on Instagram by the Chiume family confirms that the actress has died at the Garden City Hospital.

While it is not known what the cause of death is as of yet, the Chiume family stated that they would communicate further details at a later stage.

In the early 80s, Connie started acting by playing Thembi in the series Inkom’Edla Yodwa. She later won a South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA) in 2000 under the category of Best Actress in a Drama Series.

It was a moment on local television that defined who she is today. She played Stella Moloi in SABC 1’s Zone 14, earning her third SAFTA. She also appeared in the Marvel Universe film Black Panther in 2018, alongside the late actor Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’o, and Michael B. Jordan, among others.

Since the release of the statement internet users have flooded the comment sections sending their condolences to the Chiume family.

Renowned South African actress Connie Chiume has passed away at the age of 72. She passed on earlier today at Garden City Hospital in Johannesburg. Connie Chiume was a beloved figure in the entertainment industry, celebrated for her roles in Black Panther,Zone 14, Gomora & Rhythm City.
Her family confirmed the news, expressing their profound grief and requesting privacy during this difficult time. Connie Chiume leaves behind a rich legacy in film and television, marked by her exceptional talent and numerous accolades.We send our deepest condolences to her family, friends and fans.May her soul rest in peace.
( 05 June 1952 – 06 August 2024 )THE SPEAKER OF COUNCIL IN THE CITY OF JOHANNESBURG MOURNS THE PASSING OF RENOWNED ACTRESS CONNIE CHIUME

The Council of the City of Johannesburg, under the leadership of Johannesburg Speaker of Council, Cllr. Margaret Arnolds, wishes to extend heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and admirers of the award winning esteemed actress Connie Chiume, who passed away. At a time when the City is celebrating Women’s Month and remarkable women such as Chiume, who has shaped arts and culture in ways that influence future stars – the City mourns the loss of a remarkable artist whose career spanned decades and whose contributions to the entertainment industry have left an indelible legacy.

Cllr. Arnolds acknowledges Connie Chiume’s illustrious career, which was marked by numerous outstanding performances that captivated audiences both locally and internationally. Connie’s role as Mamokete Khuse on the popular television show “Rhythm City” endeared her to millions because of role as a pillar and source of fortitude not only to her family, but the community – showcasing her talent for bringing warmth and authenticity to her characters. Her portrayal of the Mining Tribe Elder in the globally acclaimed film “Black Panther” brought her international recognition and further solidified her status as a trailblazer in the South African film industry.
“Beyond her screen performances, Connie Chiume’s career was also highlighted by her dedication to theater, where she honed her craft and contributed to the rich tapestry of South African arts”, said Cllr. Arnolds. Her passion for storytelling and her commitment to excellence earned her numerous accolades and the admiration of her peers.
The Council of the City of Johannesburg joins the nation in mourning the loss of a cherished cultural icon. Connie Chiume’s legacy will continue to inspire future generations of artists and activists. Her presence on screen and stage, as well as her contributions to social advocacy, will be fondly remembered and celebrated.
Cllr. Margaret Arnolds and the entire Council express their deepest sympathies to the Chiume family during this time of grief. The memory of Connie Chiume’s extraordinary life and career will forever remain a source of pride and inspiration.
Issued by:

Serena Williams has been caught up in a controversy involving a Parisian luxury hotel.

The retired tennis star and her family were reportedly denied access to The Peninsula Hotel’s rooftop restaurant, sparking a public apology from the establishment.

SERENA WILLIAMS VOICES HER FRUSTRATIONS
Williams, 42, took to X (formerly Twitter) on 5 August to express her frustration.

 
“Yikes @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to [the] rooftop to eat in [an] empty restaurant of nicer places 🫠 but never with my kids.” she wrote.

“Always a first. 🙄#Olympic2024.”

The Peninsula Hotel, known for its opulent amenities and stunning views, swiftly responded to Williams’ tweet.The hotel offered its sincere apologies, according to US Weekly.

HOTEL OFFERS APOLOGIES TO SERENA WILLIAMS
“In response to Mrs. Williams’ tweet, for whom we have the utmost admiration and respect, as we do for all our esteemed guests, we can only reiterate our deepest apologies for her perception of tonight’s situation,” the statement read.

“Today, 5 August, our rooftop bar was indeed fully booked, and the only unoccupied tables at that time belonged to our gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was also fully reserved tonight.”

The hotel’s apology continued, “She has always been, and will always be, more than welcome with her family at The Peninsula.”

The incident unfolded as Williams was in Paris for the 2024 Olympics, according to the New York Post.

SERENA WILLIAMS AND HER FAMILY IN PARIS
Accompanied by her husband, Alexis Ohanian, and their two daughters, Olympia and Adira, the tennis legend was enjoying her time at the Games.

Williams had participated in the torch relay for the Opening Ceremony, sharing the stage with luminaries such as Rafael Nadal and Nadia Comăneci.

While at the ceremony, Ohanian, 41, was mistakenly identified by broadcasters as the person holding Williams’ umbrella.

Commentator Laura Woods remarked, “She [Serena] looks absolutely incredible.She’s got someone just behind us holding an umbrella. Those are the levels you aspire to.

OHANIAN ‘THE UMBRELLA HOLDER’
To have an actual umbrella holder behind you.”

Ohanian took the blunder in stride. “Olympia. Serena Williams. Serena’s Personal Umbrella Holder. 😂” he joked on Instagram.

He then shared a photo of himself with Williams and their daughter.

“Let the games begin! I’ll be watching a lot of T&F [track and field events] to soak up @athlos inspiration. 🥇”

Despite the dining debacle, Williams’ presence at the Olympics was a highlight, according to Fox News.

THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Known for her illustrious career, Serena Williams is a four-time Olympian, having competed in 2000, 2008, 2012, and 2016.

Williams secured gold medals in women’s doubles with her sister Venus at each event.

This year, however, she was relishing the chance to witness other athletes compete.

“It’s fun! The Olympics in Paris is really, really incredible,” Williams said.

“I don’t know if it’s fun or I’m a little jealous. I did do the London/Wimbledon combination, but I was a little jealous of here!”

THE OLYMPIC SPIRIT
While the situation at The Peninsula may have cast a shadow, it seems Williams is maintaining her positive outlook.

The hotel’s apology and her continued enjoyment of the Games suggest that the mix-up has not dampened her Olympic spirit.

With her family by her side and a front-row seat to the world’s greatest sporting event, Serena Williams remains a formidable presence both on and off the court.

Fans of actress Buntu Petse predict she’s returning to Generations: The Legacy after she shared a video of herself at Urban Brew Studios on Tuesday, 6 August.

BUNTU PETSE TEASES RETURN?
Generations: The Legacy viewers congratulated the talented actress Buntu Petse after she shared a video of herself at what appears to be at the studio of the SABC1 soapie.

 

 

 

 

 
@mfunywa_y wrote: I know istudio sase Generations when I see one?”

@23_monae said: “Are you back?😭😭😭So, I can go back to watching Generations?❤️”

The actress portrayed the role of journalist Nontle Tau who is the daughter of Tau Mogale and Ayanda in the SABC1 soapie.
NONTLE LEAVES ‘GENERATIONS: THE LEGACY’
The SABC confirmed in 2023 that the actress Buntu Petse who played Nontle Tau will not be part of Generations: The Legacy season 10.

She exited the show with actors Karabo Maseko who played Dr Luyolo, Rebaone Kgosimore who played Paul Moroka Jnr and Zizipho Buti who played Tracy.

TVSA reported that Morula Pictures confirmed in a statement: “These actors have consistently portrayed their talent, dedication and versatility – captivating viewers and earning them a special place in the hearts of fans. We will miss them and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.”

“The characters of Nontle, Luyolo, Tracy and Paul can still be seen on our screen until the end of November/early December when a dramatic story-arc reaches a mind-blowing conclusion”.

Do you watch Generations: The Legacy?
She took a break from the show in 2023 when her character received a job offer in New York.

Inside Gogo Maweni’s Bridal Shower
Traditional healer and reality TV star Gogo Maweni celebrated her bridal shower last night, a few weeks following her traditional wedding ceremony.
The traditional healer is getting ready to marry her long-time partner, Sabelo Magube, in a stunning ceremony, and her close friends are all set to give her a memorable send-off.

Sabelo and Gogo Maweni have been in a relationship for a while now, enduring various challenges and obstacles that have tested the strength of their bond.
Taking to her social media platforms, the reality television star posted a series of videos showcasing the festivities of the bridal shower. She accompanied the clips with a heartfelt caption expressing her gratitude and excitement for the upcoming wedding celebration.
“I finished work at 10:30 pm last night back to back, face-to-face consultations got home to this amazing special surprise. I love ya’ll…I am grateful,” she wrote.
Congratulations Gogo Maweni🥂🔥.

Tiffany Haddish Dragged For Her Surprise at ‘Huge’ Zimbabwe Grocery Store’
Renowned American actress Tiffany Haddish, recently found herself embroiled in controversy on social media following her visit to a supermarket in Zimbabwe. The actress was shocked to find out that Zimbabwe had a grocery store.
Many users took to their platforms to criticize and chastise her, claiming that she lacked awareness and knowledge. In response to the backlash she received, Haddish has since spoken out to defend herself and explain her actions.
Tiffany responded to criticism by explaining her perspective. She talked about her experience growing up in America, where she was constantly bombarded with negative portrayals of Africa, including images of starving children covered in flies, stories of widespread violence, and reports of never-ending conflict. This exposure shaped her initial reaction and caused her to have a skewed perception of the continent.
During her trip to Africa, Tiffany Haddish was moved to tears by the eye-opening revelations she encountered about the continent. She made it clear that the actual experiences she faced were drastically different from the often inaccurate depictions presented in the media. In addition, Tiffany highlighted that the media frequently presents a distorted depiction of Africa, causing a widespread misconception that the continent lacks resources and opportunities.

“I am an American and a Black one at that and told for years that people are starving in Africa, showed pictures of babies with flies on them. Told crazy stories of how they killed each other and there is war every day there. I asked my black friends to go with me and they were scared.”
“We got here and I have been eyes full of tears finding out the truth. The media be lying. I thought I would share because I know people in the USA that believe Africans don’t have anything,” she said.

Vuyokazi Nciweni Is Officially Off The Market
Reality TV star Vuyokazi Nciweni is officially off the market. Nciweni, who was previously in a relationship with Mpumelelo Mseleku, has found new love.
She took to her Instagram account to announce that her husband has sent a delegation to her family to wife her.
Congratulations to her.

Musa Mseleku’s son Mpumelelo has lavished his ex-girlfriend Vuyokazi Nxiweni with love and well wishes after she recently tied the knot.

 

 

 

Vuyokazi, who has two children with Mpumelelo and broke up with him earlier this year, took to her timeline on Sunday to announce she was officially off the market.The reality TV star shared images from her lobola ceremony with the caption “a promise kept”.

Reacting to the news, Mpumelelo told TshisaLIVE he was happy to see Vuyokazi move on.

“I’m happy for her. May God be with her. God is good. God loves his children. He saw what she wanted and blessed her with marriage,” he said.

In a recent episode of his family’s reality show Izingane Zes’thembu, Tirelo asked Vuyokazi whether she would have stayed in the relationship had Mpumelelo kept his promise to make her his first wife, and she responded “yes”.

“Mihlali tried to stab me and I defended myself” – Leeroy Sidambe
Leeroy Sidambe has issued a statement in response to allegations of physical assault made against him by his former partner, Mihlali Ndamase.
Over the weekend, Mihlali caused quite a stir online when she posted pictures showing bruises on her face, sparking a frenzy of speculation among her followers.
By tagging Leeroy in the now-deleted post, she inadvertently led people to connect the dots and piece together the details of the incident.
On Monday afternoon, Leeroy released a public statement to address and clarify the allegations that had been made against him.

In the statement, he sought to provide further context and explanation in order to set the record straight and address any misunderstandings that may have arisen.

Mihlali Ndamase Hits Back At Leeroy
Mihlali has hit back at Leeroy, who released a statement, claiming that Mihlali tried to stab him upon finding out about his alleged infidelity. He went on to suggest that Mihlali has a tendency to become aggressive when under the influence of certain substances, which he chose not to disclose.
In response, Mihlali fired back at Leeroy, sharing a quote insinuating that there are always multiple perspectives to a situation, and implying that Leeroy’s account may be skewed by his own narcissism.Mihlali Ndamase, a digital content creator, sparked a social media frenzy when she posted and quickly deleted an Instagram story showing her lip cut open. This led to widespread speculation about her boyfriend, Leeroy Sidambe, a businessman.

In response, Sidambe posted a detailed statement on Instagram on August 5, denying the allegations and making explosive claims of his own about Ndamase’s alleged behaviour under the influence of substances.In his statement, Sidambe recounted a harrowing incident on August 4, where he claimed Ndamase made 78 attempts to contact him before arriving at his residence.

According to Sidambe, Ndamase armed herself with a knife, accused him of infidelity, and allegedly attempted to stab him.

He stated that in the ensuing struggle, he acted in self-defence, which resulted in Ndamase’s injuries.However, the most shocking part of Sidambe’s statement was his claim that Ndamase has a long history of physically assaulting him, particularly when she is under the influence of substances he chose not to name.

“It is important to note that there is a plethora of witnesses, including children and bystanders, who can attest to me not ever laying a hand on her during or after any altercations but always deflecting and defending myself accordingly,” Sidambe stated.

He accused Ndamase of using her social media platform to spread harmful allegations in an attempt to damage his public image out of revenge.

Ndamase responded with a cryptic Instagram story that seemed to challenge Sidambe’s version of events.

She posted: “There are two sides to every story. Then there’s the narcissist’s version of events, which seems to have nothing to do with the original story,” implying that Sidambe’s account is a distorted version of the truth.

Public reaction to these new developments has been intense and divided, with some asking why she had not opened an assault charge.

“He is not my father” Miss SA finalist Chidimma rubbishes the interview video of her “dad”
Miss South Africa 2024 finalist Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina has responded to a widely circulated interview clip featuring a man who claims to be her father.

The man shared how he made the decision to leave his home country Nigeria and travel to South Africa on a visitor visa. Little did he know that this trip would change the course of his life forever. While in South Africa, he met and fell in love with a local woman, ultimately leading to their marriage and the start of a new chapter in his life as a South African resident. He claimed that he had lived in Mzansi for a decade, causing a stir among social media users who alleged that the family was deceitful.
However, Chidimma took to her Instagram stories to set the record straight. The model claimed that the individual featured in the video was not her biological father.
“It has been brought to my attention that there is an alleged interview going around about my father. The individual in question claiming and impersonating to be my dad is NOT MY FATHER,” she said.