Social media pays tribute to award-winning singer, Pinkie Mtshali who died at the age of 50 from what is said to be heart complications.

The popular opera, cabaret, afro-jazz and pop music singer entertained her fans for years and founded the “Durban Diva” show, designing and sewing costumes, directing, staging and also managing the group. She also performed for different shows working from opera, musicals, pop shows and cabarets, with local and international conductors, directors and singers throughout the country and abroad.

Mtshali, who was also a DUT Silver Tusk Recipient, was an outstanding musician who made a significant contribution to the entertainment industry. And leaves behind a legacy in the Arts fraternity.

DUT Drama and Production Studies Head of Department, Professor Deborah Lugte said Mtshali’s passing was a loss not only to her family but to the entire community.

“The Durban artistic community is in mourning due to the terribly sad loss of Pinkie Mtshali, a Technikon Natal Alumnus. Pinkie was a vibrant, well known and well-loved personality. She was a very talented artist with a powerful voice and stage presence. Pinkie has left her community heart-broken and devastated. She will be remembered fondly for her expansive generosity of spirit, her encompassing warmth and her accomplishments. Hamba kahle Pinkie Mtshali, hamba kahle! In our anecdotes, our fond recollections, and in our storytelling, you will live on in the communal memories that you have created,” said Lugte.

Here’s are some tributes from social media:

South African actress Nomzamo Mbatha has signed a management deal with one of the world’s biggest talent agencies, Creative Artists Agency.

The news was announced this week with the star confirming it on Twitter.

The former “Isibaya” star tweeted “Trust the process. Setting my table” along with the hashtag, #Nomzamo will be seen in Paramount’s forthcoming “Coming 2 America”. She will star alongside Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Wesley Snipes, Leslie Jones and Tracy Morgan in the sequel to the 1988 hit comedy classic.

Nomzamo is known for her critically acclaimed performance in the Mzansi Magic television series “Isibaya” and has received numerous awards for her acting, such as the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in “Tell Me Sweet Something” in which she starred alongside Maps Maponyane and for her humanitarian work such as the E! Entertainment Pop Culture Philanthropist of 2019.

In addition, she was appointed Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and is ambassador and spokesmodel for brands such as Neutrogena, Puma, Audi, Veuve Clicquot and McDonalds.

In 2018 she was named as one of OkayAfrica’s 100 Women honourees and was on the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list.

Nomzamo also made an announcement on her Instagram account to her 3.2 million followers.

Season 5 of The Queen kicks off on July 27, every weekday at 9 pm on Mzansi Magic, DStv channel 161.

Veteran actor and comedian, Kenneth Nkosi, is set to make a comeback to our screens, as he is expected to join the cast of Mzansi Magic’s The Queen.

Nkosi will be joining the show to play the role of the new cop Jaros.

According to a reliable crew member, Nkosi will play the role of a new cop that replaces actor Mlami Mangcala after he was booted from the show.With Jerry’s funeral coming up soon, Nkosi’s character is slowly introduced to the show as the new cop in town replacing Captain Sthembiso Radebe” said the crew member.Last month, Mangcala, who played the character of Captain Sthembiso Radebe, accused the couple, Connie and Shona Ferguson, of being masters of deception and blasted the producers on social media.In a series on Instagram posts, made by cast member Sibusiswe Jili, who plays the role of Georgina Zulu, Jili can be seen happily posing alongside Nkosi and fellow cast member Rapulana Seiphemo on set.

The legendary actor Seiphemo joins the local telenovela as Hector Sebata.“His character is a wolf in sheep’s clothing who enters the world of Tembisa as a high-ranking police colonel with a penchant for the narcotics trade,” said Nomsa Philiso, Director of M-Net Local Entertainment Channels, in a statement.Mzansi Magic publicist Vuyiswa Dlodlo (CORR) confirmed the introduction Nkosi to the show but was unable to provide further details.

Nkosi was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.

“We are excited that one of the channel’s most loved telenovelas is set to feature South African legends as they showcase their craft and add even greater authenticity and flavour to the story,” said Dlodlo.

Last month the popular telenovela saw the return of previously fired actor Sthembiso Khoza who plays the role of Shaka Khoza and the introduction of two new characters Mildred and Warona Sefatsa played by Kuli Roberts and Rosemary Zimu, respectively.

As SA mourns the passing of veteran actress Mary Twala, she is remembered for her talent and the great passion she had for her craft.In honour of a life well lived, here are seven things you might not have known about this national treasure:

1. TALENT RUNS IN HER FAMILY
Twala was married to the late actor and director Ndaba “Mshefane” Mhlongo.Together, they were blessed with a son, Somizi Mhlongo, who is a talented choreographer, actor and presenter.

If this doesn’t scream “talented family”, we don’t know what does.

2. SHE WAS CONNECTED TO HER LOVE UNTIL THE VERY END
Mam’Mary, as she was affectionately known, passed away on July 4 at the age of 80 at Park Lane Hospital in Johannesburg. This date was the birthday of her late husband.3. HER CAREER SPANNED MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY
Twala was cast in her first role after her older sister took her to an audition in 1963. Directors and producers soon fell in love with Mam’ Mary’s talent and work ethic and she went on to have a career spanning 57 years.Apart from her roles in some of Mzansi’s best soapies including Yizo Yizo, the veteran actress also appeared in numerous stage plays and films including Taxi to Soweto and Mapantsula.

Her final appearance on the big screen was in the upcoming indie movie This is Not a Burial, It’s a Resurrection, which has won several international awards.4. SHE AND SOMIZI APPEARED IN THE SAME MOVIE
One of Twala’s most memorable roles was playing the titular character’s grandmother in Sarafina! — a 1992 movie which also starred her son, Somizi.

Somizi was cast as Fire, a student leader who played a key role in the Soweto uprising, which the plot of the film centres on.

5. SHE STARRED IN SEASON ONE OF GENERATIONS
For many years, Generations was one of Mzansi’s most-loved soapies and Twala appeared during its very first season in 1994. She played a guest role which she executed with the utmost excellence.

6. SHE WAS A MUCH-LAUDED ACTRESS
Throughout her career, Mam’Mary received recognition for her craft and won various awards.

In 2015, she won a Golden Horn for Best Actress in a TV Comedy at the South African Film and Television Awards for her role as MaKhambu in Skwizas.In 2011, her role as MaDolly on Hopeville got her nominated for a Best Supporting Actress award at the sixth Africa Movie Academy Awards.

In 2018, the Mbokodo Awards, which honours women in the arts, saluted her with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2019, she received The Standard Bank Top Women Lifetime Achiever Award.

7. SHE RECEIVED A NATIONAL ORDER
In 2019, the veteran actress was awarded the Order of Ikhamanga in silver by President Cyril Ramaphosa. According to The Presidency’s website, she was given this honour for “her excellent contribution to the performing arts and for creatively raising awareness on women’s health issues through storytelling”.

Generations: The Legacy” actress Letoya Makhene said that she is “done fighting” after doing some hard introspection on her life during Covid-19.

Makhene took to Twitter where she wrote a thread for the masses saying if there is one thing she learned during this pandemic, is that it’s time to make peace with herself and her God.She said: “Life right now is so unpredictable. Life at the moment has no guarantees. I see so many people still living with so much anger and hatred. I see people dying without having taken a moment to sit with God and reflect.

“Reflect on their lives and certain choices they’ve made. I see people not even trying to make peace with their own spirits. If there’s one thing that I’ve come to learn during this pandemic, is that it’s time to make peace with ourselves and our God,” she wrote.

She continued saying the only thing she is willing to fight for is to keep herself and her family alive.

“Reflect on their lives and certain choices they’ve made. I see people not even trying to make peace with their own spirits. If there’s one thing that I’ve come to learn during this pandemic, is that it’s time to make peace with ourselves and our God,” she wrote.

She continued saying the only thing she is willing to fight for is to keep herself and her family alive.

“I’m done fighting. The only thing I am willing to fight for is to keep myself and my family alive. If you are at war with me, I will pray for you. If you’re digging a grave for me, I will forgive you. The only thing I ask is that if I’ve done you wrong in any way, please forgive me.

If I’ve hurt you, please forgive me. I may be a spiritual being, but I am still human and therefore I am not without sin. I may have built a name for myself but I am not above you,” said Makhene.

She ended the thread saying that she isn’t sick or dying, but just reflecting.

“I pray that we all find our peace before it’s too late. P. S I’m not sick or dying. This is just me reflecting and sharing. I love you. God bless you. Thokozani,” she said.