M-Net remains silent over 1Magic's involvement as 'official media partner' with 21st Century Group's now-dubious Women in Media Conference 2018.

M-Net has so far chosen to remained silent over the involvement of its 1Magic (DStv 103) channel, billed as the "official media partner", with 21st Century Group's now-dubious Women in Media Conference 2018.

The event announced to take place on 5 and 6 September in the Sandton Convention Centre, derailed on Wednesday after stars like Taraji P. Henson and Halle Berry who were announced as being part of it, said they won't attend and are not involved with it, and slammed the organisers over "fake advertising", saying it's "shameful that 21st Century Group would advertise this way".

Bonang Matheba has also bailed on the event and Webtickets told TVwithThinus that it has halted all sales.

Taraji P. Henson, who visited South Africa previously as part of a publicity blitz in mid-2016 for Fox Networks Group UK & Africa’s FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 131 / Cell C black 201) channel, said that she is working on Empire, isn't part of the conference, and that she wants her name and likeness removed from it.

The 21st Century Group in a statement said it is suing and starting a "legal lawsuit" against  42West, a well-known PR firm in the United States, and something called "Superstar Agency".

21st Century Group said that "Superstar Agency is the agency that booked Taraji P. Henson through her management, which is 42West PR. The engagement contract was signed by Susan Bymel on behalf of Superstar Agency. We also have a contract that was signed by John on behalf of 42West (Taraji’s management) confirming the booking. A deposit payment of $120 000 was paid to Superstar Agency."

An internet search couldn’t find a website for Superstar Agency. 

The American talent agent Suzan Bymel does exist, but her first name is spelled with a “z” and she is the co-founder of the Management 360 talent agency in the United States.

It's not clear whether 1Magic, one of the M-Net channels supplied to MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform, remains the official media partner because M-Net has so far refused to publicly distance itself from the organisers and the event or to affirm its ongoing involvement.

The 1Magic channel logo appears on 21st Century Group's marketing material for the Women in Media Conference 2018, giving the event its "seal of approval".

In the past week M-Net was asked questions specifically pertaining to 1Magic and the Women in Media Conference, as well as the pay-TV broadcaster's attachment as the event's official media partner.

Nondumiso Mabece, head of publicity at M-Net for local entertainment channels, didn't want to respond to the specific questions and instead referred media enquiries, although made specifically about M-Net and 1Magic and its involvement, to the organisers 21st Century Group.

Nondumiso Mabece said M-Net and 1Magic will not be issuing any statement on the conference.

As the South African public is wondering what exactly is going on, the pay-TV broadcaster was asked how M-Net checked and what steps were taken to verify that it's a legitimate event and what 1Magic's involvement in and with the event is.

M-Net was asked whether 1Magic will continue to be the official media partner of 21st Century Group's Women in Media Conference 2018, and whether M-Net is now looking into what went wrong.

M-Net was also asked whether it helped to secure talent for the event and whether M-Net and 1Magic is still fine for some of the talent like the Carte Blanche presenter Claire Mawisa and Mzansi Magic producer and actress Connie Ferguson to appear and be attached to the event.

M-Net was asked what M-Net and 1Magic wants to communicate and say to the public in regard to the Women in Media Conference 2018 over its involvement with the event and what has transpired so far.

Meanwhile the fallout and public reputation damage around 21st Century Group and its Women in Media Conference 2018 continues.

This reputational damage is also impacting M-Net's 1Magic as an attached partner, with the channel also incurring brand damage as the pay-TV brand remains unwilling to tell the public where it stands and what is going on regarding its involvement.

The troubled former Idols runner-up Mthokozisi Ndaba now claims that he wanted to quit the Mzansi Magic show but was forced to stay; M-Net says he's lying.

The troubled former Idols runner-up Mthokozisi Ndaba who derailed his promising music career now claims that he wanted to quit the [SIC] Entertainment produced show during the height of the fateful 13th season on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) in 2017 but that he was forced to continue - with M-Net saying that Mthokozisi Ndaba is lying and that there's never been Idols contestants who wanted to leave without being voted out.

The troubled, faded star scandalously flamed out with shocking behaviour directly after Paxton Fielies was announced as the previous Idols winner.

He is also on the outs with Gallo Records with whom he got a recording deal but who says the troubled runner-up was simply not co-operating and difficult to contact.

The KwaMashu singer (26) was engulfed in controversy immediately after he stormed off stage after Paxton Fielies was announced as the winner of the 13th season of the FremantleMedia and [SIC] Entertainment produced reality singing show, and refuse to attend the post-show press conference and the prize-giving ceremony and after-party - the first runner-up ever to simply duck and flee.

He remained cloistered in Johannesburg and received help from medical professionals only for a charge of assault to then be laid against him just before he flew back to Durban, by Neo Tsele who posted graphic photos of her battered and bruised face and accused Mthokozisi Ndaba of hitting her and slamming her against a wall in a Braamfontein flat. She has since decided to drop the case.

In an interview with DRUM Mthokozisi Ndaba is now accusing Idols producers [SIC] Entertainment and M-Net of refusing to let him leave when he wanted to quit while he was in the Top 10 of the 13th season.

"Once I was in the top 10 I became greedy," says Mthokozisi Ndaba. "Day by day I was losing myself, I was emotionally weak and drained and I didn’t want to be there anymore. I was homesick and there was too much pressure. I couldn't take it anymore. I wanted to pull out of the competition but the Idols team said no".

Nondumiso Mabece, head of publicity at M-Net for local entertainment channels, told TVwithThinus in response to a media enquiry seeking comment about Mthokozisi Ndaba's claims, that contestants are not forced to remain part of Idols.

"Participation in Idols is purely voluntary and contestants are welcome to leave the show at any point they might deem it necessary to do so. In the past 13 seasons of Idols South Africa we have not had a contestant who wanted to leave without being voted out of the show."

If Idols contestants are receiving psychological and emotional support, what is the quality or nature of this support, if Mzansi Magic and [SIC] Entertainment couldn't pick up during the show that Mthokozisi Ndaba has problems, allegedly wanted to quit, felt "emotionally weak and drained" and was under too much pressure?

"Idols top 16 contestants receive different types of support during their stay in the show and this ensures that they are physically and medically prepared to do their best in the show - some contestants have even requested the opportunity to see preachers in order to receive spiritual support," says Nondumiso Mabece.

"Idols and Mzansi Magic are not at liberty to discuss the nature and extent of medical assistance Mthokozisi Ndaba was offered and received, as that goes against his right to privacy."

Bonang Matheba's reality show, Being Bonang, back for a second season from May as M-Net renews it for 1Magic despite the star saying in 2017 that it won't return.

Bonang Matheba's reality show Being Bonang will return for a second season that will start on 1Magic (Dstv 103) on 4 May despite the star who said in October 2017 that there won't be a second season.

Last week Wednesday, 28 March, when TVwithThinus asked M-Net whether there would be a second season of Being Bonang on 1Magic, Nondumiso Mabece, head of publicity at M-Net local entertainment channels, told TVwithThinus that "1Magic is currently in talks with Bonang to produce a second season of Being Bonang in the first half of this year".

"We have initiated these talks with her as we believe audiences enjoyed the first season of the show and getting a glimpse into her life away from the public eye. Season two would allow our viewers to get to know her further and catch-up on where she is now and what projects is she working on," said Nondumiso Mabece.

Sometime in the past 3 working days, M-Net must have signed a contract with Bonang Matheba.

It's not yet clear why M-Net and or Bonang Matheba had a change of heart, or how a first episode can be filmed, edited and be ready in a month's time for broadcast since M-Net was only still in talks about a new season by last week.

Being Bonang will again only be available to DStv Premium subscribers on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

On Wednesday Bonang Matheba at a media event said that her reality show Being Bonang will be "back on 4 May, so may the fourth be with you" and that the second season will focus some more on the breakout star, her cousin Pinky Girl's life.

Although the Bonang Matheba Entertainment (BME) and BarLeader produced Being Bonang wasn't a breakout ratings hit in its 14-episode first season, despite a new co-director who was brought in to help, the show did manage to turn her cousin Tebogo Mekgwe "Pinky Girl"into a star.

M-Net tells TVwithThinus that the second season of Being Bonang will have 13 episodes.

No, M-Net is not moving its telenovela, The River from 1Magic to Mzansi Magic or making episodes available on that DStv channel.

M-Net is not moving its new local telenovela The River on the 1Magic (DStv 103) channel to Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) and the pay-TV broadcaster has no plans at the moment to make episodes of the series available to lower-tiered DStv subscribers.

M-Net says The River - produced by Tshedza Pictures where it's written and executive produced by Phathutshedzo Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon with Connie and Shona Ferguson as supervising producers - will remain exclusively on 1Magic as a viewing offering for a DStv Premium audience.

"It was definitely a joke. The River is not moving to Mzansi Magic, Nondumiso Mabece, head of publicity at M-Net local entertainment channels, tells TVwithThinus.

It comes after the writer and producer Portia Gumede on social media told people on Monday - that happened to be 1 April - "Great news. The River on 1Magic is being moved to Mzansi Magic. Now we can all watch it". It turns out that it was an April Fool's Day joke.

The River on 1Magic is only available to DStv Premium subscribers since it started on 29 January this year, while Mzansi Magic is available to more pay-TV viewers including Premium but also DStv Compact Plus and DStv Compact subscribers.

While the ratings of The River of just a few thousand viewers per episode over the past two months has been so-so, it's to be expected and not out of line with some other Premium only DStv channels like M-Net (DStv 101), since the premium audience targeted telenovela is only available to the smallest potential pay-TV audience.

That upmarket audience lured to tune in to the weekday drama starring Sindi Dlathu and Hlomla Dandala - although small - are however highly courted and the most sought after by advertisers, justifying higher per thousand viewer ad spot rates for the 1Magic channel.

Police: No arrest yet after woman claims brutal assault by troubled Idols runner-up Mthokozisi Ndaba.

The police says there’s been no arrest yet after a 21-year old woman on Saturday opened a case of assault against the troubled Idols runner-up Mthokozisi Ndaba who has so far remained unreachable by M-Net’s Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channel.

Hillbrow police station spokesperson, Sergeant Mduduzi Zondo told TVwithThinus on Sunday afternoon “that a case was opened on Saturday morning against Mthokozisi Ndaba and the matter is being investigated. No arrest has been made yet."

The police is investigating a a claim of physical assault after a charge was laid by Neo Tsele (21) after Mthokozisi Ndaba allegedly beat her up in Braamfontein on Friday night, almost a week after the conclusion of the 13th season of the FremantleMedia format reality show produced by [SIC] Entertainment.

Neo Tsele says Mthokozisi Ndaba opened a bottle of vodka and after an argument ensued, started to hit her and then slammed her into a wall. She also lost a tooth while he ran away.

"You brutally abused me, I don't deserve to be beaten up like this by a stranger that I have never even wronged. Why? Why did you do this to me? You will run but you will never hide," she wrote on social media, with an image of her bruised and battered face.

Mthokozisi Ndaba who remained cloistered in Johannesburg the past week after all media interviews were abruptly canned while he received care from medical professionals since he struggled to come to grips with his defeat after Paxton Fielies (17) from Cape Town won the13th season of Idols, was supposed to fly back to Durban on Saturday afternoon.

After posing for pics at the O.R. Tambo airport in Johannesburg with DJ Prince Kaybee, it’s not clear if he actually got on the plane and is back in KwaMashu, or if he is still in Johannesburg.

DJ Prince Kaybee was quick to distance himself from the fallen Idols star, saying “A few minutes ago I posted a pic of me and Mthokozisi (Idols). It just got to my attention about his alleged assault case. I don’t condone such actions against women and apologise if I offended anyone.”

Mzansi Magic said that it has been unable to get in contract with Mthokozisi Ndaba since Saturday. It’s highly unusual for a TV channel not to be able to quickly get hold of any of its on-air talent and personalities, especially during a crisis that has big negative brand and reputational impact.

Silence from Mthokozisi Ndaba

Mthokozisi Ndaba has issued no statement about the alleged brutal assault.

On Sunday Mthokozisi Ndaba’s manager, Kim Coppen, didn’t respond to an emailed media enquiry seeking comment on the allegations of physical assault against Mthokozisi Ndaba.

Kim Coppen was asked if there are considerations to possibly drop Mthokozisi Ndaba following the allegations of assault and what his management’s view is on the assault and abuse of women.

Last week Kim Coppen said Mzansi Magic is responsible for Mthokozisi Ndaba’s publicity until this week.

Nondumiso Mabece, head of publicity at M-Net for local entertainment channels, on Sunday afternoon told TVwithThinus that Mzansi Magic has no new information and has still been unable to reach Ndaba.

Asked if during the past week when Mthokozisi Ndaba was placed under media professionals’ care there was any awareness that the person is troubled beyond what Mzansi Magic, Idols and M-Net understood might be the case, Nondumiso Mabece said “we are not at liberty to discuss the outcomes of Mthokozisi's sessions with the medical professionals as that information is private”.

Meanwhile rumours have started to circulate that Mthokozisi Ndaba was allegedly borderline abuse and rude towards some of the other contestants during their stay in the Idols house. Mzansi Magic was asked if any contestants ever complained about his behaviour during their time in the Idols house.

Nondumiso Mabece told TVwithThinus that “we did not receive any complaints from contestants during the show”.

The claim of physical abuse against the Idols star came at the start of this year's 16 Days of Activism campaign that runs from 25 November to 10 December and aims to raise awareness over the scourge of violence against women and children in South Africa.

In a recent survey 1 in 4 women said they've been hit by a man, and 1 in 5 said they've been sexually abused or raped, with only 5% of women saying they feel the South African Police Service (SAPS) would help them if they reported it.

Sunday was the International Day to End Violence Against Women.

FROM SORE LOSER TO ALLEGED WOMAN BASHER: Idols runner-up Mthokozisi Ndaba brutally physically assaulted me and ran away, says bruised and beaten woman who lost a tooth.

The troubled Idols runner up Mthokozisi Ndaba has gone from sore loser to an alleged woman basher, with a young woman who on Saturday shared photos and claimed that he allegedly physically assaulted her after which he ran away, saying she also lost a tooth in the violent attack.

"You brutally abused me, I don't deserve to be beaten up like this by a stranger that I have never even wronged. Why? Why did you do this to me? You will run but you will never hide," she says with an image of her bruised and battered face.

The police is investigating a claim of physical assault after a charge was laid by Neo Tsele (21) after Mthokozisi Ndaba allegedly beat her up in Braamfontein.

Neo Tsele says Mthokozisi Ndaba opened a bottle of vodka and after an argument ensued, started to hit her and then slammed her into a wall. She also lost a tooth while he ran away.

Hillbrow police station spokesperson, Sergeant Mduduzi Zondo told TVwithThinus that "a case was opened on Saturday morning against Mthokozisi Ndaba and the matter is being investigated. No arrest has been made yet."

Nondumiso Mabece, head of publicity at M-Net for local entertainment channels, told TVwithThinus is has been unable to reach the star that exhibited  bad behaviour since Sinday when he lost against Paxton Fielies and flew back to Durban on Saturday afternoon.

"Mzansi Magic and Idols are aware of social media posts of an alleged incident that took place on 24 November."

"We have however, been unable to make contact with Mthokozisi Ndaba, who has travelled back to KwaZulu-Natal. Mzansi Magic and Idols condemn any act of abuse," the M-Net run channel said.

The claim of physical abuse against the Idols star comes at the start of this year's 16 Days of Activism campaign that runs from 25 November to 10 December and aims to raise awareness over the scourge of violence against women and children in South Africa.

In a recent survey 1 in 4 women said they've been hit by a man, and 1 in 5 said they've been sexually abused or raped, with only 5% of women saying they feel the South African Police Service (SAPS) would help them if they reported it.

Sunday is International Day to End Violence Against Women.

Mthokozisi Ndaba isn't the first Idols star involved in a brutal physical fight.

In August 2011 the Idols contestant Freddie "Van Dango" Moss was involved in a shocking and violent bar brawl with his face that got smashed in.

M-Net said it would pay for his hospital surgey after he suffered a broken cheekbone and disfigurement to his face since the production's insurance doesn't cover injuries sustained because of drinking.

The controversial Idols runner-up Mthokozisi Ndaba (25) who has now basically wrecked his career, damaged his career prospects as an artist and his brand after he blatantly storming off the stage at the Big Top Arena at Carnival City in the East Rand on Sunday night after Paxton Fielies (17) won.

While Paxton Fielies from Bishop Lavis in Cape Town was announced the winner at the end of Sunday night’s 13th season finale and sang her closing song surrounded by the rest of the top contestants, Mthokozisi Ndaba was nowhere in sight.

He suddenly refused to attend the post-show press conference, the VIP prize-giving after party usually held in the Mardi Gras room at Carnival City, and declined to do any media interviews this week as he went to ground.

This past week Mthokozisi Ndaba remained cloistered in Johannesburg under the care of medical professionals after struggling to deal with his bitter defeat against winner Paxton Fielies.

Mthokozisi Ndaba’s manager, Kim Coppen, referred media enquiries to Mzansi Magic, saying the TV channel is responsible for his publicity until next week.

M-Net’s Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channel that broadcast Idols told TVwithThinus earlier this week that the channel had no idea when Mthokozisi Ndaba from KwaMashu, Durban who has gone to ground, will be doing interviews, with all media appearances and interviews this week that abruptly got canned.

According to reports Mthokozisi Ndaba already said before the start of Sunday's finale that if he didn’t win, he wasn’t going to do media interviews.

After throwing open his life to the public and courting their attention, votes and engagement, he now wanted privacy.

Idols runner-up Mthokozisi Ndaba not doing any interviews; getting 'assistance to deal with emotions' after Paxton Fielies won.

The Idols runner-up Mthokozisi Ndaba is not doing any media interviews at all at the moment and is getting "assistance to deal with emotions" according to Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) after he lost to Paxton Fielies who won the 13th season of Idols on Sunday night.

Mthokozisi Ndaba (25) from KwaMashu, Durban who've suffered several setbacks in life, is struggling to come to grips with the fact that he lost to Paxton Fielies (17) from Bishop Lavis, Cape Town and refused to attend the post-show media press conference on Sunday night.

After Paxton Fielies was announced as the winner, Mthokozisi Ndaba literally bolted from the stage while Paxton Fielies closed out Sunday's season finale with a song and the other top Idols contestants surrounding her as they traditionally do.

He became the first runner-up no-show in the history of Idols not to attend the press conference afterwards where winner and runner-up sit together and face the media, with Mzansi Magic that said he is "compose himself".

Nondumiso Mabece, head of publicity at M-Net local entertainment channels, says Mthokozisi Ndaba isn't doing any media interviews and is getting assistance to work through his disappointment.

"Mthokozisi has requested to be given time to come to terms with the result of the Idols show. He will indicate when he is ready to speak to the media".

"He is currently receiving assistance to deal with emotions involved in this situation."

As runner-up Mthokozisi Ndaba doesn't go home empty handed - he won prizes worth more than R150 000, including R50 000 cash from Telkom, R50 000 cash from Capitec bank, R10 000 in vouchers from Truworths, a wireless handheld microphone from Sure of R30 000 and R25 000 worth of musical equipment from Yamaha.

Mthokozisi Ndaba was orphaned at 14 with his sister and went to life with his grandparents.

In 2009 he failed matric when his grandmother died but went back in 2013 and passed although in that year his firstborn son Ntandoyenkosi died. He'a also had to bury another infant son.

In February he was hit over the head and shot in both legs during a robbery at home with his guitar and laptop stolen, and he literally limped back to Idols, initially keeping the incident secret from the producers.

Earlier this year Mthokozisi Ndaba said besides singing his other dream is of doing a TV show entitled Save Me from Me that revolves around helping township youngsters involved with substance abuse to get help and to be connected with people and organisations who can help with the scourge of alcohol and drugs.

AWKWARD. Idols runner-up Mthokozisi Ndaba stuns by refusing to show up for Mzansi Magic's post-show press conference; becomes first no-show runner-up in the series' history.

The Idols runner-up Mthokozisi Ndaba (25) from KwaMashu stunned the South African media on Sunday night when he pulled a disappearing act and refused to attend the Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) post-show press conference after Paxton Fielies (17) was crowned the winner of the 13th season with the most of the over 30 million votes cast during the past week.

Mthokozisi Ndaba's seat behind his name card and microphone next to Paxton Fielies very awkwardly remained conspicuously empty for the entire duration of the press conference at Carnival City after the conclusion of the 2-hour live broadcast.

Mzansi Magic executives and Idols producers, themselves caught on the backfoot and without time to even remove his name from the table, simply told the press that Mthokozisi Ndaba is "composing himself".

With his no-show he became the first runner-up ever in the 13 seasons of the show not to appear alongside the winner before the media.

In the past the Idols runner-up would always also face the media, discuss their plans moving forward, accept their prizes and graciously congratulate the winner.

M-Net always releases the final voting tally and voting statistics over the course of the season after two weeks following a season finale, so it's not yet known by how many more votes and what voting percentage Paxton Fielies won over Mthokozisi Ndaba.

There are some things to keep in mind, as a lot of personal psychology come into play in every person's life - even more so for those whose lives are on public display and when they're suddenly thrust into the harsh glare of fame's spotlight.

While everyone's success in the world of showbiz is often built on the rejection experienced by someone else, is does take a lot of courage, and often practice and experience to force a smile or to give a hug when you're not the one winning the Oscar, or not the one crowned the new Miss South Africa.

Mthokozisi Ndaba was orphaned when he was 14 and failed matric in 2009. He went back and passed in 2012.

Then in February this year he was shot in his leg during a traumatic robbery at home.

He literally limped back to the competition, and initially kept what had happened a secret from Idols producers.

Obviously his loss on Sunday night became too much for him in the moment, a feeling that every single person who has ever had to lose any public competition knows and endures.

The right thing to do however is to show up for the end and conclusion, just as you showed up during the competition for its duration.

On Sunday night the Idols producers were specifically asked what type of psychological and emotional support the show provides to contestants during - and after - the show.

"We provide counselling of their choice. Some people ask if they can maybe see a pastor, some people want to see a psychologist, so we do offer all those services to the contestants. And whether they take them up is purely up to them," said Gavin Wratten, Idols executive producer.

"That is why we also have someone like a Donald Moatshe as the Idols mentor who's part of the team. His mentorship to them is not just about how to sing a song, but also how to deal with rejection in the industry."

"Because it is a reality show and this is basically what happens in the industry: You go and say 'Here's my single', and someone says 'Yes' to someone, and they say 'No' to somebody else."

"But we do offer as much support as possible. We have people with them 24/7, looking after them, and if there's any hastle, we've got a doctor on call, we've got everybody standing by," said Gavin Wratten.

Nondumiso Mabece, head of publicity at M-Net local entertainment channels, stressed that emotional support of Idols contestants "is not something that's only done at the end of the show. It's done throughout the show".

"On a weekly basis the contestants get an opportunity to speak to someone like a psychologist throughout the show. It's not just emotional after - like today - it's emotional what they go through every single week."

"Definitely the emotional support provided to Idols contestants is something that is very important to us."

Mzansi Magic: Sorry Babes, no reality TV show; pours cold water on Qqom Queen's claims of a reality series.

Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) is pouring cold water over the Qqom Queen’s claim of having a reality show on the channel, telling TVwithThinus it's not doing a reality TV series with Babes Wodumo.

The 23-year old Durbanite who keeps bumbling from the one awkward public embarrassment to the next, told the Sunday Tribune yesterday that she has a reality show on M-Net’s Mzansi Magic channel with cameras that will start rolling next week to catch her all her glam and qqom.

Reality TV show projects from high-profile South African female stars like Bonang Matheba and Minnie Dlamini caught a lot of buzz and headlines the past few months and Babes apparently now wants in on it too.

"Viewers will see that I am not fake," Babes Womdumo told the Sunday Tribune who earlier this year partied while she was supposed to apply for an American visa under her real name of Bongekile Simelane.

Babes Wodumo was supposed to apply for an American visa in person to attend the BET Awards in America in June, but did interviews and attended parties like the sendoff party from the eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede using taxpayers’ money. Babes ended up unable to go.

Recently Babes Wodumo implored the South African public to help her search for her missing USB that according to her carried the link to a new song.

The pay-TV broadcaster dispelled Babes Wodumo's claims of a reality show on Mzansi Magic that’s supposed to start broadcasting in November on the channel that’s carried on MultiChoice’s DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

"We do not have a programme that has been commissioned regarding Babes Wodumo," Nondumiso Mabece, M-Net’s head of publicity for local entertainment channels, told TVwithThinus.

“We have seen a number of reality show proposals centered around various personalities including Babes Wodumo but we do not have a commissioned programme.”

Babes has now been nominated for the MTV European Awards 2017 in the Best Africa act category.

The 24^th edition of this awards show will take place in London on 12 November and will be broadcast on MTV (DStv 130). For Babes Wodumo this means travelling to the United Kingdom, a country for which South Africans need a separate visa.

Babes Wodumo said "I will definitely be attending the MTV awards. I have sorted out the visa. I am going".

BREAKING. Serious allegations of 'horrible racist incident' rocks M-Net and Penguin Films' new Ring of Lies series on Mzansi Magic as actors vent.

Serious allegations of racism are rocking Mzansi Magic's (DStv 161) new series, Ring of Lies, with frustrated and furious cast members slamming the M-Net and Penguin Films show over on-set actions.

The veteran and respected actress Florence Masebe took to Twitter on Tuesday slamming Ring of Lies, saying "racism is out here dancing on our set".

"I can speak to you anyway I like because I'm white." This is what a crew member just said to our director who is a black man," said Florence Masebe, calling it "a horrible racist incident".

"I can speak to you anyway I like because I'm white." This is what a crew member just said to our director who is a black man.

— Mme a Masakona (@FloMasebe) May 10, 2016

Fellow Ring of Lies actress Dineo Nchabeleng added her voice, saying "we have been dealing with this since the beginning of the shoot. We will not continue to work until it is sorted".

We have been dealing with this bs since beginning of shoot. We will not continue to work until it is sorted https://t.co/eRTUnpEuQb

— Dineo Nchabeleng (@dineo_nchbeleng) May 10, 2016

"This is the 2nd incident we've had on the set of Ring of Lies today and still we are meant to continue working!? What is happening?!" she said.

This is the 2nd incident we've had on the set of #RingOfLies today and still we are meant to continue working!? What is happening?!

— Dineo Nchabeleng (@dineo_nchbeleng) May 10, 2016

In response to a media enquiry about the Ring of Lies incident, Mzansi Magic tells TVwithThinus that the M-Net produced channel for MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform has been in contact with the Ring of Lies cast and production company Penguin Films regarding the incident that took place on-set involving two production crew members.

"An investigation is being undertaken and appropriate steps will be taken to ensure that the situation is resolved," says Nondumiso Mabece, PR head of M-Net's local entertainment channels.

"Mzansi Magic and Penguin Films strongly condemn any acts of discrimination and encourage a fair working environment based on mutual respect".

Veteran South African TV producer and creative producer and director at Penguin Films, Roberta Durrant, tells TVwithThinus that "Penguin Films have a policy of zero tolerance to any form of discrimination on any of the Penguin Films sets".

Roberta Durrant says Penguin Films take the Ring of Lies matter seriously.

"The verbal altercation was between the director and the art director and we are investigating the incident and are taking all steps to sort it out."

Actress Florence Masebe is respected in the South African TV industry and when she deliberately, publicly calls something a "horrible racist incident" and says "Racism is out here dancing on our set" she is putting her personal reputation on the line to draw public attention to something she feels strongly about and wants people to know about.

It's not clear yet how the Ring of Lies actors who spoke out about alleged on-set racism on Tuesday will be protected from possibly being victimised in whatever way or possibly bulldosed into silence about the matter and what they perceived happened.

Not clear yet is whether people will be suspended, but Mzansi Magic says in response to a media enquiry that "the production has not been interrupted".

The allegations of racism by Ring of Lies cast members comes just over a month after starlet Mbali Mlotshwa in late March claimed alleged racism on the set of the SABC's 7de Laan soap on SABC2 produced by Danie Odendaal Productions.

Mbali Mlotshwa said publicly that she suffered racial abuse on the 7de Laan set and that "racial slurs happened on set with people I thought were educated and open-minded".

The SABC ordered an urgent investigation.

Cooler as Cliffies: Jack Parow replacing Gareth Cliff as Idols judge - but only as a once-off for the Cape Town auditions.

Jack Parow is replacing Gareth Cliff as Idols judge on the 12th season of the Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) show - but it will only be a once-off for the Cape Town auditions while Gareth Cliff goes to America.

The "Cooler as Ekke" singer is joining Randall Abrahams, Unathi Msengana and Somizi Mhlongo as the 4th judge at GrandWest in Goodwood in Saturday for the last stop of the current nationwide Idols audition process.

Jack Parow is stepping into Gareth Cliff's seat with the radio entrepreneur in the United States and missing out on the Mother City auditions.

"We are honoured that Jack Parrow will join the judging panel while Gareth is away," says Nondumiso Mabece, Mzansi Magic's head of publicity. "He is a firm South African favourite who will add a unique dynamic and excitement to the panel".

People who want to audition need to be at GrandWest on Saturday with their ID and be between 16 and 30 years old.