After initially resuming Sunday services under the “new normal” on June 7, Grace Bible Church has resolved to suspend that decision with immediate effect. In a statement yesterday, the church said its bishop’s council, led by presiding bishop and church founder Mosa Sono, met on Wednesday night and resolved that the well-being of congregants was critical during this unpredictable time.

The church’s highest decision-making structure concluded that because of the rising number of infections, and the many lives lost, it would be prudent to suspend all services.

This is part of helping to prevent the increase of infections, especially in hot spot areas. After careful consideration, we have decided to support all efforts to minimise infections by cancelling all physical church services. We will continue to broadcast sermons and also stream them live on social media,” Sono said.

“Our pastors will also be available to provide support when it is needed. We are also in support of a multi-sectoral committee convened by our government to find solutions to the non-adherence of Covid-19 protocols in some neighbourhoods and to address the scourge of gender- based violence.”The bishop’s council also urged members of the church to continue praying for the nation and support those less fortunate through donations of food and other essentials.

The church, which has branches across the country as well as abroad, was among the religious organisations that last held Sunday services two months ago when the country went into a national lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus.Since then, Sono continued to deliver the “word” live on Soweto TV every Sunday and through social media platforms. In addition, the church’s daily prayer hour between 5am and 6am via Facebook is followed by thousands of people.

The service on June 7 was held in line with the provisions of alert level 3 of the lockdown, which allows for religious gatherings to resume under strict conditions.

We thought Bonang Matheba and AKA were good now. After his breakup with Dj Zinhle, he liked her pictures on Instagram and went as far as calling her a goddess. Bonang was also found jamming to his song in one of her quarantine video so we thought the two were cool or whatever.Well, Bonang Is back to her subtweeting ways. Don Design dropped his song at midnight featuring AKA and Moozlie which is when Master KG also released his Jerusalema Remix featuring AKA’s nemesis Burna Boy.While Master KG’s song has been trending all morning, the Don Design song is nowhere to be found. A fan decided to shake things up by asking Bonang If she had given the song a listen and her reply spoke volumes. She simply tweeted “Master KG & Burna Boy.” with a heart emoji to boot!

LOS ANGELES — “American Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson, actor Zac Efron and British star Benedict Cumberbatch are among celebrities who will be getting a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in 2021.

Shia LaBeouf, Missy Elliott and “American Pie” singer-songwriter Don McLean were also among the 35 stars of film, television and music announced for the honor on Thursday by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which administers the tourist attraction.

The late Italian opera singer Luciano Pavarotti and Pulitzer Prize-winning “Fences” playwright August Wilson will be given stars posthumously.They will join more than 2,600 celebrities, including Charlie Chaplin, Jennifer Aniston, Jimi Hendrix and rapper Snoop Dogg, whose names are inscribed on pink and bronze stars embedded on the sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard in a tradition that started in 1960.

The campaign that Dr Musa Mthombeni has joined is inspired by the recent survey on the impact of Covid-19 on people’s mental health.
Image: Supplied
TV star and medical practitioner Dr Musa Mthombeni has joined a campaign that aims to address mental health and encourage mental strength for people to cope with life during Covid-19.

Known as “Three Word Stories”, the campaign is inspired by the recent survey on the impact of Covid-19 on people’s mental health.

The survey, which was conducted by the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), stated that 65% of the 1,214 respondents admitted to feeling stressed as a result of SA’s lockdown.

The campaign is an initiative of Metropolitan and it also features motivational speakers like Malibonge Xaba, Hector Mathebe, Keabetswe Jan, Lehlohonolo Thoabala and Abongile Mangala.

Mthombeni said he joined the campaign because mental health has always taken a back seat to physical health, and the sad part was that there was a lot of mental health issues that manifested themselves physically.

roducer couple, Connie and Shona Ferguson have hit back at claims that they mistreat their staff and underpay them.

This comes after Mlamli Mangcala who stars in “The Queen” which is produced by Ferguson Films, penned an open letter detailing how he was treated by the couple.

The Cape Town-based actor said he was initially paid half of his normal rate but accepted the role because he wanted to be on the Ferguson’s radar.

“It’s written in my contract that when you live far, they are supposed to accommodate you and give you a premium rate. I asked them about it and they said they were not going to do it at the moment,” he said.

After the series premiered in August 2016, the character was well-received and Mangcala’s contract was extended for a year.

“Come season two, they gave me an attitude of ‘take it or leave it’ and they only gave me a R100 increase,” he said.

“The Queen” showrunner Lauren Nell, who speaks on behalf of Shona and Connie, spoke on “The Morning Flava” on Metro FM this week about the allegations and denied any wrongdoing by the Fergusons.

“The role he (Mlamli Mangcala) plays was meant for a person residing in Johannesburg and he was made aware of that but he said he will take it and he will manage. After many complaints, the Fergusons were open to making another contract for him that says he will be paid monthly even if he has not worked. There has been a time where he has not worked however he was paid,” said Lauren.

She also went on to deny the accusations of a R100 salary increase and said that Mangcala’s expenses were over R27 000 for the duration of season two to season three.

She also added that staff get given holiday vouchers during the festive season.