John Legend is set to return to South Africa in February 2027, bringing his new The Muse Tour to Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town. The 13-time Grammy Award winner will perform at three venues across the country, combining songs from his extensive catalogue with material from his latest album, Muse.

Presented by Big Concerts, the tour opens at SunBet Arena, Time Square, in Pretoria on 20 February. Legend will then perform at Durban ICC on 23 February before concluding at Grand Arena, GrandWest, in Cape Town on 25 February. All three concerts are scheduled to begin at 8pm.

Photo: Instagram/@John Legend

The expected setlist includes some of his best-known recordings, such as All of Me, Ordinary People and Tonight (Best You Ever Had), alongside newer material from Muse. Released in 2004, Ordinary People helped establish Legend as a prominent R&B singer, while All of Me, from his 2013 album Love in the Future, became one of his biggest international hits.

Released on 23 October 2026, Muse is Legend’s 12th studio album and his first full-length collaboration with Pharrell Williams. The pair have been friends for more than two decades, with Pharrell taking on songwriting and production duties for the project.

Photo: Instagram/@John Legend

The album draws on several influences, including gospel, classic soul, doo-wop, Afrobeat and hip-hop. It also features contributions from Clipse on Bodies on the Floor. The new material gives South African audiences an opportunity to hear the direction of Legend’s latest work alongside songs from earlier stages of his career.

Legend’s achievements extend beyond recording. He achieved EGOT status in 2018, having won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award. His Oscar came from Glory, his collaboration with Common for the film Selma, while his Tony Award recognised his work as a producer of the Broadway production Jitney. He has also served as a coach on NBC’s The Voice.

Photo: Instagram/@John Legend

The South African tour dates are 20 February at SunBet Arena in Pretoria, 23 February at Durban ICC and 25 February at Grand Arena, GrandWest, in Cape Town.

The Mastercard presale opens at 10am on Wednesday, 11 November, and closes at 8.59am on Friday, 13 November. The Big Concerts Fan Club presale begins at 9am on Thursday, 12 November, while general ticket sales open at 9am on Friday, 13 November. Tickets will be available through Ticketmaster South Africa and Big Concerts.

All three performances are scheduled for 8pm.

HHomba Mazaleni has been named the winner of the 2026 Top Billing Presenter Search. She was announced as the winner on Thursday, October 29, at Le Manoir Boutique Hotel in Northcliff, Johannesburg.

The competition was sponsored by Lucky Fish and  attracted more than 3,000 audition entries from young presenters across the country. After several rounds of challenges, Mazaleni progressed through the Top 10 before securing a place among the final five. She competed against Talitha Bothma, Karen Mthethwa, Nehemiah Tjatji and Ross Marshall.

According to the organisers, the campaign reached over 56 million people during its first three months and generated over 5.4 million social media interactions.

Photo: Getty Images

Speaking after her win, she explained that she posted the video at 8pm on a Sunday and went to bed. By the time she woke up the following morning, her phone was filled with notifications. 

The 27-year-old has a background in sports science, She studied Human Movement Science at Nelson Mandela University. 

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Mazaleni  was among the last 5 at Miss South Africa 2023. Her younger sister, Qhawekazi Mazaleni, won the Miss South Africa 2025.

Her final Top Billing challenge involved exploring the motorsport industry. She has interviewed racing driver Chloe Stuart. 

Reacting to her appointment, Mazaleni described the opportunity as a childhood dream.

“Top Billing is such an iconic part of South African television. It was one of those shows that made you feel like you could experience the world through your screen,” 

Patience Stevens, managing director of production company Cardova Productions, praised her efforts.

Photo: Getty Images

“Her journey reflects exactly what Top Billing is about: real South African stories and the people behind them,” 

Sane Zondi, head of channel at S3, also welcomed her appointment, praising her mix of skills.

“Homba’s distinct blend of biokinetics, sports expertise and passion for storytelling makes her a valuable addition to the Top Billing presenter ensemble. Leveraging her voice and talents, together with our partners, Lucky Fish, we look forward to bringing Top Billing fans bespoke features and exclusive stories over the coming months.”

Her appointment comes during the return of Top Billing after nearly seven years off television. The programme covers travel, fashion, entertainment and  luxury properties. 

Top Billing airs on Thursdays at 7pm on S3, with repeats on Sundays at 1pm and Tuesdays at 9:30pm on SABC1. Episodes are also available on SABC+.

Olivia Dean will headline the third edition of Milk + Cookies Festival South Africa in January 2027. The announcement confirms her first appearance at the festival. 

Dean will perform at Sandringham Farm in Cape Town on January 29, 2027, then head to Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg on January 31. She will be joined by Elaine, Zee Nxumalo, Chelsea Sloan and Jade T. Organisers have confirmed that additional performers and details of the festival will follow in the coming weeks.

There have been rumours among fans about who will headline the festival. Promotional material featuring a pink colour scheme prompted some social media users to connect the campaign to Dean.

Photo: Instagram/@OliviaDeano

Dean arrives in the country following a successful period in her career. Her second studio album, The Art of Loving, was released in September 2025 and topped the UK Albums Chart. The project includes, single Man I Need which topped the UK singles chart in October 2025. 

Dean won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2026 and collected four BRIT Awards. During her Grammy acceptance speech, she praised her grandmother Carmen, who moved from Guyana to London at the age of 18. 

“I’m a product of bravery,” Dean said . 

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Milk + Cookies Festival first edition took place in 2025, with Canadian electronic music producer Kaytranada as the headline act. American rapper Gunna headlined the 2026 edition. 

The festival’s first edition reportedly attracted approximately 20,000 people, while its audience has continued to grow across the two cities.

Photo: Instagram/@Poppulsesa

Chase Freeman, head of marketing at Milk + Cookies, explained the thinking behind the festival’s varied bookings.

“Never the same sound, always the same feeling. That’s the only brief we’ve ever had. We book for the people in the room, not for a genre, and they come for what the room feels like as much as the name on the poster.”

If you are planning to attend, pre-registration opened on October 23. The ticket pre-sale is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, at 10am, followed by general sales on Friday, October 30, through Howler. The festival is open to people aged 18 and above.