Actor Charles Maja played the role of Big Boy Mabitsela on ‘Skeem Saam’.
Image: Skeem Saam/ SABC Education YouTube
Two months after news that Skeem Saam actor Charles Maja had died, fans of the soapie got to see his character on screens again this week, leaving many deep in their feels.

The veteran actor, who was known and loved for his role as Big Boy Mabitsela on the show, suffered a stroke in April.

He stole the hearts of many, as the overprotective father to his on-screen son Leshole (played by Thabo Mkhabela) and made an appearance in Thursday night’s episode of the show.

Fans were surprised when he made an entrance to put MaNtuli in her place and had us rolling on the floor in laughter at his jokes.

Over on social media, it was a mess as fans flooded Twitter with memes and messages remembering Big Boy.

They were heartbroken to see him on screen and thanked the producers for including him in the episode.

It is still not clear how his character will come to an end, but fans have called on the show’s bosses not to replace him.

Local rapper iFani, real name Mzayifani Boltina, sets the record straight about the status of his music career, fatherhood and the lessons he has learnt through taking a much-needed break from music to spend more time with his son.

Speaking to Move!, iFani says he hasn’t quit music, as many believe, but that he’s shifted his focus closer to home.

“I didn’t quit music; my priorities have shifted and I now have time to do things I didn’t have time for before. Things like raising my son and spending time with him and not having to constantly go somewhere. I didn’t have time to take care of myself and just relax because I was constantly busy and music was my priority,” the rapper tells us.“I never had a father so my decision to raise my son is coming with a lot of lessons. I never knew what it was like having a male presence in my life. I am starting on a clean slate.

“I keep learning about myself in fatherhood. I’m learning that I’ve been too hard on myself and I see this when I’m being hard on him. I shock myself because I see that I’m too hard on myself too sometimes. I’m also learning that I’m very fond of babies,” he jokes.He says he has much more time now than he had before. “I’ve had a gym membership for two full years – something I’ve never done before,” he jokes.

“I get to spend time with my son. I get to bath him, play games with him, watch cartoons and even help him with his homework. These are all luxuries I didn’t have when he was younger,” the 34-year-old says.“I say I have a one and a half children because the mother of my youngest child says the child is not mine, even though when I look at the child and I see the child’s pictures I can tell that the child is mine. My hands are tied. The child is only two years old. I can’t do much about it if the mother denies the child being mine.I have learnt that people can love you regardless of who you are. When I blew up it didn’t matter what I looked like, where I came from or what language I spoke, they loved me with my isiXhosa regardless. Even people in Venda knew who I was and they would welcome and scream for me – the respect I received was beautiful. It made me realise that if people from outside can love me this much why can’t I love myself?

“People were willing to love me in any way or form, but at the end I felt as though I was giving too much of myself to making music. It became the only thing I did. I had no friends because I couldn’t spend time with them, I couldn’t go home for Christmas and spend time with my family and spend time with my cousins. I was committed to music,” iFani shares.

“I want people to know that I am okay, I’m in a good space. I also want them to know I didn’t quit music and to know that everything will make sense soon.”

The muso says he has learnt a lot from music and has received so much love from the people who enjoy his music.

Avid watchers of Mzansi Magic’s hit soapie The Queen, took to social media last night, to celebrate and compliment Themba Ndaba’s acting range. The actor who portrays the tell-it like it is character of Brutus on the show, left his fans in total awe with his reaction after Shaka resurrected from death.

Loyiso Gijana
Image: Instagram
R&B and Afro-soul sensation Loyiso Gijana’s song about the killing of women in SA has taken the country by storm.

The emotional song, titled Madoda Sabelani, was released on Tuesday and has become a hit on social media. It is dedicated to the women who were killed in the past two weeks.

By yesterday afternoon, the song had already received more than 100,000 shares and views on social media.

Gijana said initially he wanted to compose a tribute song for the late Uyinene Mrwetyana, who was a friend. The two went to the same high school.

He said he realised that a lot of women were victims of gender-based violence and dedicated the song to all victims. The song was composed by Gijana alone and he also did all the backing vocals.

Kia Johnson is new 50/50 presenter on SABC2. / INSTAGRAM
Radio broadcaster and TV personality Kia Johnson is still pinching herself in disbelief after she finally landed a job as a presenter of SABC2 show 50/50, her favourite show since childhood.

Johnson hosts a breakfast show on Radio Tygerberg 104Fm on weekdays.

Her love for the environment, which started at a young age, has seen her being involved in many environmental campaigns and initiatives.

Some of her achievements include being an ambassador for World Wildlife Fund SA, winning the Most Influential Plastic Free Mzansi Campaigner for 2019, and being listed as one of the top environmental influencers in the country for 2019 by Treeshake.

“I am excited to finally get this job. I auditioned for the show and waited for months before they told me I got it. I still cannot believe that it is me. I am still pinching myself. For me it has been a dream come true,” she says.