Local media personality Khanyi Mbau weighed in on criticism regarding how closed the entertainment industry is in South Africa.
The “Mbau Reloaded: Always Rise” star shared a promotional video for Castle Lite’s collaboration with local shoe company Bantu in which she is featured.
Twitter user @Darrenw02210035 responded to it, saying: “SA the same people gets all the deals".
SA the same people gets all the deals 😂 😂
— Darren white (@Darrenw02210035) September 29, 2020
Mbau replied: “The fast, they pray, the hustle HARD!!”
The fast, they pray, the hustle HARD!! https://t.co/ymBJsrek0V
— KHANYI MBAU (@MbauReloaded) September 29, 2020
Another user disputed Mbau’s statement, mentioning “Dinner at Somizi’s” and Mohale Motaung-Mhlongo’s lastest gig on “Rhythm City” as examples of celebrities who use their connections and are favoured when it comes to opportunities, while others who studied to be chefs and actors are overlooked.
Nah my darling, they got connections, they are favored...
Eg: why would somizi get a cooking show while there's plenty qualified chef's who can actually do the job way better than him..
Why is Mohale getting acting jobs while other kids went too acting schools?
Some BIAS moves
Mbau responded to his claims, saying it was through fasting, prayer and putting it out in the universe that the opportunities came to them.
“THEY FAST, they pray… nothing happens without what u put to the universe!”
THEY FAST , they pray... nothing happens without what u put to the universe! https://t.co/IRY71tX2ak
To which @Snathy_tus replied: “Ayyy Khanyi u are smarter than this, you know exactly that SA competitions & auditions happens just to follow protocol. Favorite contestants already won. So my question is why should parents waste their money for kids to go school for a job that u gonna take jst becoz you are YOU?”
Ayyy Khanyi u are smarter than this, you know exactly that SA competitions & auditions happens just to follow protocol.Favorite contestants already won. So my question is why should parents waste their money for kids to go school for a job that u gonna take jst becoz you are YOU?
— SOUTH FLAVOR mixtape OUT NOW🙏🌍🇿🇦 (@Snathy_tus) September 29, 2020
The “Ubusuku Bonke” star then went on to explain that while parents pay for their kids’ passions, working in the entertainment industry is a different ball game. She said “life is a battle” and it’s “survival of the fittest”.
“No one is coming to save u, n one owes u anything. In any industry it’s about mastery. Some will serve and some will be served.”
Parents pay money because they kids have passion. The job part is another game all together, life is a battle peridot! Survival of the fittest! No one is coming to save u, n one owes u anything!! In any industry it’s about mastery! Some will serve and some will be served! https://t.co/1SkXbrT43Y
— KHANYI MBAU (@MbauReloaded) September 29, 2020
This comes after it was announced that Motaung-Mhlongo landed a guest acting gig on “Rhythm City” in which he debuted on Wednesday.
His husband, Somizi Mhlongo-Motaung, faced similar criticism when it was announced that he would be hosting a cooking show.
The cooking show, "Dinner at Somizi’s”, has been mired in controversy recently after claims that Mhlongo-Motaung stole the concept, an accusation he has denied.