Gauteng Community Safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi–Malobane really launched a tirade against Zodwa back in January. He strongly condemned her lifestyle choices:
“People of Zodwa’s calibre are a disgrace to humanity. No parent can ever be proud of her child for not wearing underwear in public for money.”
“Zodwa’s mannerism on stage is harmful and her messages don’t display liberation or independence, instead it exposes our young girls to perpetrators or rapists within our society.”
When the crux of your argument is victim-blaming, you probably need to change tact though. Blaming Zodwa for rape culture is more irresponsible than anyone deciding to go commando, isn’t it?
Making an enemy of Robert Mugabe
Last year, Wabantu was scheduled to perform at a number of gigs in Zimbabwe. However, the goalposts kept moving and eventually, she wasn’t allowed to do her thing in the country. Robert Mugabe then went on to acknowledge his regime put a stop to her appearances:
“You just come without covering your decency. What do you want? Men to see you? We don’t want such.”
Of course, getting a lesson in human decency from Robert Mugabe is a bit like being told to sort your hair out by Donald Trump. It’s all very hypocritical.
Hooking up with a very famous married man
This really was the first time Zodwa Wabantu was a national headline-maker. Rumours of her relationship with Mandla Mthembu – whilst he was still married to Khanyi Mbau – were splashed over tabloid front pages, making her famous overnight.
She told IOL that Mandla, the former celebrity businessman who has since fallen on hard times, used to treat her to “wads of cash” as gifts. Who says romance is dead?
Jacob Zuma told her to tone it down
Zambia? Check. Zimbabwe? Check. South Africa? Check.
According to The Citizen, Zodwa’s hat-trick of pissing off entire governments includes a chastising from Jacob Zuma himself. When he was still President earlier this year, JZ made a call to the socialite’s friend DJ Tira, and relayed a message of restraint:
“I honestly don’t have a problem with the way Zodwa dresses. That’s the image she prefers to portray and her fans love that about her. What I can’t tolerate are the messages she’s directing to young women.”
Wabantu did admit she would think more carefully about the messages she would send to the youth. But that hasn’t stopped her from being who she is. In fact, it looks like she’s already making a “cheeky” appearance on an upcoming music video:
