Celebrity News
Brenda Ngxoli Takes On Brenda Fassie in SABC1’s New Docu-Series
When news spread that Brenda Ngxoli would play Brenda Fassie in the upcoming four-part docu-series Vulindlela, reactions were instant. Within hours, social media lit up with excitement, curiosity, and plenty of debate.
SABC1 confirmed the casting in mid-November, describing the project as a detailed look at the life and legacy of one of South Africa’s most magnetic performers. Ngxoli, a seasoned actress with more than twenty years in television and theatre, takes on one of the most challenging portrayals of her career, stepping into the story of a woman whose music still defines an era.
Brenda Ngxoli – Instagram
Fassie wasn’t just a star. She was a mirror to her time; fearless, unpredictable, and deeply human. Taking on her role is no small task. Ngxoli’s casting suggests that the producers were looking for skill, not celebrity, and wanted a performer who could hold both the humour and heartbreak that shaped Fassie’s journey.
The docu-series, Vulindlela, will blend interviews, rare footage, and dramatised scenes. SABC1 says it aims to show “the rise, the collapse, and the reinvention that shaped Brenda Fassie’s extraordinary career.” The focus isn’t only on her fame but also the hard truths behind it: the pressure of fame, personal struggles, and public scrutiny that came with being South Africa’s biggest pop icon.
Brenda Ngxoli – Instagram
As with anything tied to Fassie’s name, opinions came fast. Some fans argued that her niece, Gemma Fassie, should have played the role, while others felt Ngxoli was the right choice, an experienced actress who could carry both the energy and vulnerability needed for the part. The split reaction shows how strongly South Africans still feel about Brenda Fassie’s story. She remains more than a memory; she’s still a presence.
The first episode airs on Saturday, 15 November 2025, at 8pm on SABC1. Each part will explore a phase of Fassie’s life: her breakthrough, her rise to fame, the turbulence that followed, and finally, the legacy she left behind. Actor Sphamandla Dhludlu will play Chicco Twala, Fassie’s longtime collaborator and friend, adding another layer to the story’s authenticity. Producers have said they’re steering clear of a polished retelling, promising instead to show the woman behind the music without trimming away the difficult parts.
Brenda Ngxoli – Instagram
This project lands at a time when South African broadcasters are investing more in homegrown stories. But Vulindlela isn’t just a history lesson; it’s a cultural reflection. Fassie’s music carried the sound of resilience and rebellion. Retelling her story is a reminder of how pop culture and politics often collided in the country’s most creative years.
For those who grew up dancing to “Weekend Special” or shouting along to “Vuli Ndlela,” this series will do more than stir old memories. With Brenda Ngxoli stepping into Fassie’s shoes, it revisits the fire, flaws, and freedom that made Brenda Fassie unforgettable, and still unmistakably ours.
Beyoncé is celebrating 20 years of B’Day with an anniversary edition of the album. B’Day will be released on September 4, 2026.
B’Day was Beyoncé’s second solo studio album and followed her 2003 debut, Dangerously in Love. The album featured some of her best tracks. The edition has 27 tracks which has the original album with B-sides, rare recordings, and Spanish-language versions.
Image: @beyonce/Instagram
The full tracklist for the deluxe edition includes:
- Déjà Vu
- Get Me Bodied
- Suga Mama
- Upgrade U
- Ring the Alarm
- Kitty Kat
- Freakum Dress
- Green Light
- Irreplaceable
- Check on It
- Beautiful Liar
- Flaws and All
- Resentment
- Listen
- Morning Dew (Donk)
- My First Time
- Can I Watch You
- Welcome to Hollywood
- Lost Yo Mind
- Creole
- Back Up
- Get Me Bodied (Extended Mix)
- Irreplaceable (Irreemplazable)
- Amor Gitano
- Listen (Oye)
- Beautiful Liar(Bello Embustero)
- Get Me Bodied(Mueve el Cuerpo
The physical release is for collectors. The four-LP deluxe edition comes on 180-gram Bayou Blue vinyl and includes a 60-page booklet and two art prints.
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Beyoncé will make the anniversary project available in two-LP editions and a CD. These give fans options depending on their needs.
Image: @beyonce/Instagram
The original B’Day remains an important album in Beyoncé’s career. She has worked with Pharrell Williams, Ryan Tedder and The Dream who are top producers.
This anniversary gives fans an opportunity to to enjoy some of Beyoncé’s old songs. It also shows how much material surrounded the making of B’Day.
Twenty years after its original release, B’Day is returning in a much larger package. The anniversary edition combines familiar hits, lesser-known recordings, Spanish-language versions and newer material into one 27-track collection.
Sean “Diddy” Combs could face criminal charges in connection with the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur. This has become a possibility during the ongoing trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis.
Davis, 63, is accused of orchestrating the September 7, 1996 shooting in Las Vegas. Prosecutors say the attack followed a fight at the MGM Grand involving Shakur, members of his entourage and Davis’ nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson. Shakur was riding in a BMW with Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight when a white Cadillac pulled up and Shakur was shot four times.
Photo: Getty Images
Davis has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors have built much of their case around statements he made over the years, including a 2008 police interview and his 2019 memoir, Compton Street Legend. Davis admitted he was in the Cadillac and described what happened that day.
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According to former police detective Daryn Dupree, Davis claimed Combs offered $1 million to have Shakur and Knight killed. He said:
“Sean ‘Puffy’ Combs supposedly had given money to Zip Martin to give to Mr. Davis for payment for the Tupac murder,”
Those allegations have never resulted in criminal charges against Combs. His representatives have denied his involvement. People reported that Combs is not a witness in Davis’ current trial.
Photo: Getty Images
Legal experts say the absence of Combs from the scene would not prevent prosecutors from charging him if credible evidence links him to the killing. Ex-prosecutor Neama Rahmani explained that Combs could face a charge if investigators could corroborate Davis’ allegation.
A Nevada judge had ruled that Davis’ 2008 police interview could be used at trial. The decision gives prosecutors another opportunity to present his statements about the shooting and the events surrounding it to jurors.
The Davis trial could become important if new evidence shed light on the alleged financial arrangements behind the killing. Nearly 30 years after Shakur’s death, the proceedings have reopened questions about who planned the attack and if there is anyone involved.
French Montana is coming to South Africa this December for two headline performances marking the launch of AFROTRAX, a new live entertainment series. The US rapper will perform in Cape Town and Johannesburg on December 4 and 5.
French Montana will be at The Ostrich in Cape Town on Friday, December 4, 2026. The event will run from 2pm until midnight.
He will then travel to Johannesburg for a second performance at The Canvas on Saturday, December 5.
Photo: Instagram
AFROTRAX is a new live entertainment platform that aims to connect Africa’s creative community with international entertainment. The two concerts will officially launch the brand, with French Montana being the headline act.
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The organisers are presenting the concerts in partnership with PLAYY. Music. They have promised fans premium hospitality experiences.
French Montana, born Karim Kharbouch, has worked with top artists. His songs include Unforgettable featuring Swae Lee, No Stylist featuring Drake, Pop That featuring Rick Ross, Drake and Lil Wayne, and Writing on the Wall, which features Cardi B, Post Malone and Rvssian.
Photo: Instagram
The organisers described the launch as an important moment for the new platform. They said:
“AFROTRAX represents a new chapter in African live entertainment. Launching the brand with French Montana is a significant milestone for us and the beginning of something much bigger,”
More details about the events, including additional programme information and other announcements, will be released closer to the December shows.
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