Seasoned media personality and Crown Gospel Music Awards founder Zanele Mbokazi has passed away. Here, she spoke to us about her faith, her journey as an author and more.
She’s affectionately known as MaZet-Zet to the loyal listeners of her praise and worship Sunday morning segment Eshilo.

Zanele Mbokazi-Nkambule has been a prominent figure in the media and entrepreneurship space throughout her more than two-decade-long career.

Hailing from the streets of Thornwood and KwaNdengezi, KwaZulu-Natal, Zanele’s determination led her to excel in the field of marketing and public relations before claiming her spot on one of the biggest radio stations in South Africa, Ukhozi FM, from 1995 to 1999 and back again in 2023.

 

 

 

 
“I was born to speak. I was born to use my voice and my pen. Those are the two things. My voice and my pen are my biggest weapons,” Zanele says as she sits down with TRUELOVE for an exclusive in-studio interview.

While her radio stints make her most renowned for her soothing voice and powerful demeanour, it’s her journey as a life and business coach, founder of the Crown Gospel Music Awards and sharing her life advice and experiences through four published novels that cements her ambition in the many industries she’s in.

“To have what I’ve never had, I have to do what I’ve never done.” No wiser words have been spoken by Zanele that wholeheartedly describe her life’s trajectory.

Dressed in a luxuriously pink asymmetrical gown so reminiscent of Zanele’s appeal, she graces us with her presence as she dives into everything from her ministry and faith to her family life and future projects.Zanele is an open book as she shares with us how she upholds her faith.

“My family, my parents did not have much. What they taught us and what they left me with as their legacy and ifa lami (my inheritance) was their words and their words were words of faith. My dad used to say to me, look at me, and say Jeremiah 17 … ‘Blessed is the man whose trust and hope is in the Lord. And cursed is the man whose trust and hope is in other people. So that sums up my upbringing’.

“My faith, when I was very young, I literally grew up in church. And I started preaching when I was, you know, just after varsity. I didn’t even know what I was doing. Little did I know that I was being prepared for my role as a bishop’s wife.”

Zanele’s childhood and her continuous journey in faith goes hand-in-hand with her life coaching business, which she has been running for the past nine years.

“I call myself a turnaround coach because that’s exactly what I work on. I always want results. I’m very much results driven. And when I’m coaching somebody, it is personal development, whether it’s starting a business – I’ve been an entrepreneur for 22 years.

“It’s always centred around results because I want to make sure that there is a turnaround. Ultimately, those who know me well, they call me a midwife of dreams. And that is what I aim to do so that ultimately, I help people to give birth to their dreams fearlessly,” she shares.

While her approach to life is centred on her faith, Zanele knows that not all of her clients will subscribe to a higher power.

“Look, faith is one thing and faith is everything to me, my faith. However, we live in a society where people are free to believe in literally anything. So, I do get a lot of people, clients from outside [South Africa]. Philippines. I don’t know why I’ve got a lot of clients from Philippines. India and then mainly Namibia, Botswana, Nigeria – quite a lot. So, I get a lot of different people. And although faith is everything to me but my coaching is not necessarily faith based,” she says.

Prince Kaybee has called out controversial social media personality Ntsiki Mazwai over her tweet mocking the new Miss SA, Mia Le Roux.

Ntsiki has come under fire after she ridiculed pageant organisers for crowning a white woman. This, following her criticism that former finalist Chidimma Adetshina was trolled over concerns and questions over her nationality.

Mia, the first deaf woman to win Miss SA, was crowned in a glittering ceremony over the weekend. Nompumelelo Maduna and Onalenna Constantin were named her runners-up.

 

 

 

PRINCE KAYBEE LABELS NTSIKI MAZWAI ‘RACIST’ OVER MISS SA POST
Following Mia Le Roux’s crowning, Ntsiki Mazwai tweeted a picture of the new Miss SA with the caption: “Is this what you wanted? Well done, nigxothe umntu omnyama for umlungu! [fire a black woman for a white woman]”.

In another tweet, she posted: “All the black contestants DESERVED to lose. They watched another black girl be bullied and kept quiet!”

mia le roux, miss sa, deaf
Miss SA Mia Le Roux is the pageant’s first deaf winner. The model will use her reign to help “excluded” communities feel seen and heard.
Images via Facebook: @mialeroux
Responding to the controversial tweets, Prince Kaybee – who has also come under fire for defending Chidimma Adetshina against criticism, tweeted: “What a racist post.”

Prince Kaybee also retweeted a post that praised Mia Le Roux’s win as a “step towards inclusivity” and a “milestone for representation, especially with the stigma surrounding people with disabilities.”

GAYTON DEFENDS MIA LE ROUX
Minister of Sport, Art, and Culture Gayton McKenzie has also praised Mia Le Roux amid racial tensions surrounding the Miss SA pageant.

He tweeted over the weekend: “We don’t have a White Miss South Africa, a Black Springbok Captain, or a Colored Banyana Banyana coach. We see them as South Africans.

He added: “We have adopted reconciliation as our North Star guided by our Father Nelson Mandela. You will come around; I did!”

Outgoing Miss SA (2023) Natasha Joubert opened up about what’s next for her after passing down her crown to her successor, Mia le Roux on Saturday 10 August at the finale of the pageant, in an exclusive interview with The South African.

NATASHA JOUBERT CROWNS SUCCESSOR MISS SA 2024
The finale of the 2024 Miss SA pageant took place at the SunBet Arena, Times Square in Pretoria on Saturday 10 August. Natasha Joubert co-hosted the pageant with media personality Bonang Matheba. Take a look at Bonang’s stunning outfits here.

 

 
At the end of the pageant, Natasha took her final strut across the stage as Miss SA before she crowned her successor, Mia le Roux, Miss SA 2024. Natasha took to Instagram to celebrate Mia’s win.

“Our beautiful and inspiring Miss South Africa 2024! I am soooo excited to follow your reign and see what you accomplish,” she wrote.WHAT’S NEXT FOR NATASHA JOUBERT?
Natasha expressed that the weeks leading up to the Miss SA 2024 finale had been emotional for her, and she took to Instagram to share her feelings previously.

“You know three weeks ago I made this video on Instagram where I got quite emotional about what is next. Because I think there’s always this question, and when you lie in bed you ask yourself what is next and you what’s going to be as big as Miss SA,” she said exclusively to The South African.

She went on to reveal that she had booked herself psychology sessions to help her as she embraces the change.

“I’m trying to tell myself that this is only just the beginning. I booked myself three psychology sessions, really to live in the moment and be present. I really just pray that the right opportunities will find me. You know I do know what I want to lean into, presenting, hosting shows, more TV. I definitely (will want to) do more campaign work,” she continued.

Natasha added that she intends on continuing some of her duties and plans on launching a brand or two.

“I find a lot of purpose in serving and I will continued to do that and hopefully start an exciting brand or two,” she added.

The newly crowed Miss SA Mia le Roux expressed that she never thought someone like, who is differently-abled would become a Miss SA titleholder, in her acceptance speech on Saturday 10 August.

MIA LE ROUX CROWNED MISS SA 2024
The newly crowned Miss SA Mia le Roux made history as the first-ever differently-abled Miss SA in history. Natasha Joubert passed down her crown to Mia on Saturday 10 August at the end of the finale of the pageant, held at the SunBet Arena, Times Square in Pretoria.

After catching her breath, Mia expressed that she is humbled and grateful to be crowned Miss SA.

“With a humble and grateful heart, I accept the incredible responsibility of being your Miss South Africa 2024. It is an honour that fills me with immense pride and gratitude, and I am deeply touched by the trust and confidence that South Africa has placed in me,” she said in her acceptance speech.

 

 

 

 

Mia, who was diagnosed with hearing loss at the tender age of one, said that she never thought a girl like her – who is differently-abled – would hold the Miss SA title.

“As a little girl I never would have thought that someone like me could become Miss South Africa. It is extremely powerful what this could mean to other little girls – that even if you have something that makes you different, you still can achieve your dreams with determination and hard work,” she continued.

Here’s five things to know about the new Miss SA. Take a look at what’s next for Miss SA 2023 Natasha Joubert.

MISS SA ON RECIEVING A COCHLEAR IMPLANT
Mia also revealed that she was blessed with a cochlear implant by her community when she was just two years old. She explained that this was lifechanging and allowed her to hear.

“At the tender age of two, I was blessed by my community with the gift of a cochlear implant. Family, friends and strangers rallied to raise funds for this operation – a life-changing opportunity that allowed me to hear. It was also the start of a long journey to listen to sound and connect with the world through speech, a journey that also has taught me to never give up,” she said.

Mia went on to reveal that her first four words were “look there, white clouds.”

“It took two years of speech therapy and continued repetition of words before I looked up to the sky one day and said my first four words: ‘Kyk daar, wit wolke – look there, white clouds,” she continued.

Now, Mia wants to give back to her community by being a voice to those who are different and felt excluded.

“Today, it is my turn to be your community, to be a voice for those who, like me, have experienced the challenges of being different and feeling excluded. I am here to serve as your representative, to champion the causes that matter to South Africans and to create a space where everyone can shine in their unique, beautiful way,” she added.

After being shunned by many South Africans over her parentage, former Miss SA finalist Chidimma Adetshina has been invited to participate in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant.

However, some Nigerians were unhappy about the decision, calling it “unfair” and “favouritism.”

The 23-year-old model has yet to respond to the formal invitation.

 

 

 

 

PAGEANT FANS UNHAPPY OVER INVITATION TO CHIDIMMA
On its official social media accounts, Miss Universe Nigeria pageant owner Guy James Murray-Bruce appealed to Chidimma Adetshina to represent her ancestral country.

Chidimma has a Nigerian father and an alleged Mozambican mother.

A statement read: “We believe that your journey in the world of pageantry is far from over. There are still numerous opportunities for you to showcase your talent, grace, and beauty.”

The pageant claimed that Chidimma was eligible to enter due to her Nigerian heritage on her father’s side.

It continued: “This is an opportunity to represent your father’s native land on an international stage. We believe you would be an outstanding contender.

“We encourage you to consider this opportunity and take part in a competition that celebrates the strength,However, many social media users were unhappy about the invitation, which would fast-track Chidimma into the Top 25 finalists.

@thimna9526: “So you want her to participate in Miss Nigeria and make her win just to prove a point? What about those girls who auditioned for Miss Nigeria? Also, does she possess citizenship in Nigeria?”

@lizzysnowqueen: “Not fair on ACTUAL PROUDLY NIGERIAN participants who have never tried to manipulate their way to the top of a competition.”

@ozioma: “If you’re extending an invite to her, it should be for next year, not this year. How does this make any sense? Dump the pity party, let her earn her spot at next year’s audition, being Miss SA’s finalist is not the benchmark. Nigerians deserve our leaders, zero professionalism, just content, clickbait, and sentiments.”Former Miss SA finalist Chidimma Adetshina has been invited to compete at the Miss Universe Nigeria. However, pageant fans are unhappy at her inclusion. Photo: X/@official_misssa
IS SHE ELIGIBLE AS A NIGERIAN CITIZEN?
According to Section 25 of the Nigerian Constitution, Chidimma Adetshina may be considered a citizen of Nigeria by birth according to this stipulation:

“Individuals born outside of Nigeria whose parents or grandparents were or are citizens of Nigeria are eligible to apply for citizenship of Nigeria by birth.”

It added: “It is important to note that under this section, it is impossible for a person to claim Nigerian citizenship by birth if none of their parents nor grandparents were born in Nigeria. You must have blood ties in order to be a Nigerian citizen by birth.”

SHOULD CHIDIMMA BE PERMITTED TO ENTER MISS UNIVERSE NIGERIA 2024?