She grew up in Hammarsdale and she is the fifth child in a family of eight siblings. Her mother worked as a machinist in a clothing factory, while her father passed away early in her career. Interestingly, her younger sister is also a provincial netball player.

 

 

Bongiwe’s netball journey began in 2004 when she was just 16 years old, while she attended Chief Luthayi High School in Durban. In her debut match, she stepped in as a substitute, filling the role of Wing Defence because the team was short of one player.

At that time, Bongiwe Msomi didn’t even have proper training shoes or kit. Her school coach, S’thembiso G. Mncwabe, provided her with an old kit so she could continue playing.

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BONGIWE AND NETBALL
She would change out of her sports kit at the courts before returning home, as cultural reasons did not permit her to wear it at home. Bongiwe credits her first netball coach, Mncwabe, with kickstarting and supporting her netball career. He even used his own money to buy balls, cones, and shoes for the players he coached.

Bongiwe Msomi played for KwaZulu-Natal’s Kingdom Stars in South Africa, where she also captained the team in the Brutal Fruit Premier League. In 2010, she was invited to the SPAR Proteas training camp but narrowly missed making the squad.

However, her determination paid off, and in 2011, she became part of the SPAR Proteas for the 2011 World Netball Championships in Singapore.

CAPTAIN BONGIWE
Over time, she climbed the ranks and became the deputy to Maryka Holtzhausen in 2013. Bongiwe Msomi’s leadership qualities shone, and in 2016, she was announced as the captain of the SPAR Proteas for their tour of New Zealand and Australia for the Quad Series.

She has successfully led the SPAR Proteas squad in the 2017 and 2018 Quad Series, even securing their first-ever victory in 2017 against the England Roses.

Bongiwe Msomi’s international netball journey took her to the UK, where she played for Surrey Storm in the UK Netball Superleague. Surrey Storm coach Tamsin Greenway spotted her talent during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and made her an offer to join the team.She played Wing Attack and Centre for Surrey in 2015 and later joined the Wasps in 2017. Both teams were coached by Tamsin Greenway, and both teams clinched league victories. In 2017, Bongiwe received an offer from the Adelaide Thunderbirds and joined the team in 2018 to play in Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball.

After the 2018 season, she returned to the UK to play for Wasps Netball. Apart from her impressive netball career, Bongiwe is the founder of the Bongi Msomi Netball Project, a non-profit initiative dedicated to elevating the status of netball.

PROTEAS LEADER
The project focuses on the holistic development of coaches, players, children, and athletes, showcasing her commitment to the growth of the sport. Bongiwe Msomi is not only a talented netball player but also a leader and an inspiration, both on and off the court, making South Africa proud with her achievements in the world of netball.

THULANI AND ANATHI REACH OUT
TVSA Gqeberha: The Empire September teasers reveal Thulani will call Bulelwa (Zikhona Sodlaka) when doctors inform him that Anathi’s life is in danger.

Thursday, 7 September teaser reads: “To ensure Anathi’s pregnancy runs smoothly, Thulani calls in some help

 

 

Friday, 8 September teaser reveals that Thulani and Anathi will receive bad news about their baby.

Thursday, 14 September: “Thulani comes to Bulelwa in desperation.”

The fan-favourite couple Anathi and Thulani (Tembinkosi Ngcukana) have been in hiding since Luzuko (Mbulelo Grootboom) attempted to kill them.

The duo re-appeared at Anathi’s grandmother’s house after the boat explosion and left for East London as they fear for their lives.

Thulani and Anathi on her wedding day. Images via Twitter @Jabu_Macdonald
‘GQEBERHA: THE EMPIRE’ VIEWERS REACT TO UPCOMING STORYLINE
@MrsVanDerFats: “I can’t wait for Thulzgate to contact Bulelwa, imagine thinking your child is dead.”

@dlaminitreasur1: “I’ve been waiting for Thulani to contact Bullet.”

@ThembileMsuthu: “It’s about time, I’ve waiting for Thulani to contact his mother yooh. As for uNtanto, he has to save them, it’s all his fault vele.”

@MaMbhanjwa: “Yoh kanti uNtando zimnetha nini yena he pisses me off. And can the truth about the kids come out already so that Luzuko can suffer?”

o many, the late Derek Watts was often recognised as one half of the famous Carte Blanche duo, the other half being his co-presenter Ruda Landman. However, the investigative journalist was a happily married man, who had been with his wife Belinda for over three decades.

Derek was also a doting dad to his children Kirsty and Tyrone.

The veteran TV star was remembered in an intimate memorial service on Thursday, 31 August.

DEREK WATTS: HOW HE MET HIS WIFE
While Derek was a recognisable face to many South Africans, he was just “dad” to his two children Tyrone and Kirsty. He was also a loving husband to his wife Belinda.

derek watts, carte blanche
Derek Watts wife and children. Images via Instagram: @belinda_watts/ kirstywattsfoundation
In an interview with Sunday Times, Derek shared how he had met Belinda in the pet food aisle of a local Pick n Pay store in Benmore. Belinda was picking up supplies for her cat, while Derek was tending to a stray dog he had taken in.

 

 

 

The couple wed in 1989 and had been married for close to 35 years.

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A post shared by Belinda Watts (@belinda_watts)

‘I WILL LOVE YOU FOR ETERNITY’
In a speech read out by a family friend during Derek Watts’s memorial service, Belinda spoke out for the first time since his death.

The speech read: “My darling babe. I cannot eloquently put in words just how much you enriched my life with your unconditional love.

“You and our beautiful children are my everything. You gave me all the love and the security I always needed, and I will love you till eternity.”

derek watts
Derek and Belinda on their wedding day. Image via YouTube screenshot: Mnet/Carte Blanche
Belinda dedicated the couple’s favourite song – Lauren Jones’s Compare To You – to her late husband, which was played alongside a video montage of images from their relationship.

Katlego AKA Kat Ncala is a South African presenter and model. She’s one of celebrities who come from families that are doing well and was raised by both her parents. Kat and her family usually share their family content or what they get up to on Instagram including her parents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The family have shared pictures going to church

Or when having events and recently Kat posted on her stories that her father was trying to order food on Uber eats which became a complete fail mission.

She jokingly wrote that he doesn’t know how to use the app and has been trying to order for the past hour. She put laughing emojis and even tagged him.

A few minutes later she shared, that he was still at it.

She then shared that they had food however people shouldn’t be fooled because he drove to the restaurant to buy instead of continuing online. This was a hilarious post because it shows how our parents sometimes struggle to keep up with the latest technology trends.

The Real Housewives of Durban star Mbali Ngiba’s Sarafina dance moves go viral on Instagram.

Mbali saw herself trending a few days ago after she delivered the news that she was pregnant. The reality star shared pictures on her Instagram showing her pregnancy, and fans congratulated her.

Indeed, the talented actress was one of the most jovial celebs in South Africa even before she was pregnant.

 

 

She always makes other people around her happy, and she does so with dance moves.

She shared the video dancing to Mbongeni Ngema and Leleti Khumalo’s hit song VumaDlozi Lami.

Mbali Ngiba pulled all these dance moves to remind her fans of the past times.

“Let me take you back😂😂Undoubtedly, Mbali took her time to prepare for the Sarafina dance before shooting it.

It was about the dance moves and the dressing to make it look perfect.

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Mbali looked perfectly like the Sarafina Leleti Khumalo pulled off many years ago in the movie.

She replicated the dance moves by Leleti Khumalo, and it seemed she won many fans’ hearts.

What a way to remind fans of one of the finest movies ever to be made in South Africa!