Latest news with #EngineerYourLife
IOL News
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Bonko Khoza opens up about life, fame and the pitfalls of the South African entertainment industry
South African actor Bonko Khoza opens up about fame, financial pitfalls and stresses in the entertainment industry. Image: Instagram During a visit to Lungelo KM's "Engineer Your Life" podcast, acclaimed actor Bonko Khoza delved deep into the intricacies of his life, his marriage and the challenges that come with fame. Khoza is currently the man of the moment on the small screen. He has earned high praise for his leading roles in the history-making Netflix movie, 'Heart of the Hunter' and the hit Showmax series, 'Red Ink' and "The Wife". Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'My heart is good' During the interview, Khoza reflected on his craft and exposed the harsh realities of the South African entertainment industry. Khoza began by discussing the awakening he has experienced regarding his personal philosophy. With a heartfelt message anchored in spirituality, he said: "My heart is good. I've been doing a lot of inner work with myself about the heart in relation to God. That's the heart's function in terms of cleaning out the tunnel between myself and God. "What I've come to learn, right now as I'm speaking to you, is that it's gratitude in terms of prayer, because it's validation of the present." Young hustler Rewinding to his early aspirations, Khoza shared a glimpse of his youthful pursuit of becoming a visual artist. He recalls starting out at an art school and juggling various odd jobs at Makro and Wimpy, as well as bartending. "I've been working for a long time, making my own pocket money or just cash to buy my own things." Addressing the sobering reality that many South African actors die broke, Khoza mentioned: 'The South African entertainment industry is no different in appearance or structure than anywhere in the world, but here we have real problems.' He pointed out that productions are often severely underfunded, leading to compensation that does not reflect the talent and dedication actors bring to their roles. 'I think there is a terrible stigma around producers underpaying people and I might put my head on the chopping block here, but the ecosystem is not that strong,' Khoza stated. 'Most of our legends die broke because, number one, it's not that glamorous, the fees aren't that great, and secondly, we don't have royalties.' Pay pitfalls He emphasised that actors remain financially vulnerable due to the nature of their contracts, which are often renewed annually, based on budget constraints. "At every job, you're just making enough for that job. It's crazy that the perception is that when someone sees you on TV, they think that you're making a crap ton of money, I don't know why human perception is that 'because I am public, I am rich'. "The people that are successful in the industry, I think have had great ways to manage that money or some kind of support. But if you are surviving purely on acting money, it's hard because you are not guaranteed your next job," he said. Reflecting on his exit from the popular show, "The Wife", Khoza shared that he does not allow public opinion to dictate his career moves. "I am never dictated by what other people think, not that I couldn't care less, I love an audience, I went to a theatre school, we engage with the audience, but my art is not measured by how someone else feels. Being human "I really try to do what I think is cool and what I think people will appreciate and just take it from there. "In this life now, the artist can quickly become the art. I am not the art, I am Bonko, I am the artist. Artists were never supposed to be famous. I was never supposed to be famous, I'm a piece of sh**. "I am not the cool guy, I've never been the cool guy. I'm introspective, I'm poetic, I'm deep, I cry, I am not the architype of a famous person and how that person suppose to engage." He acknowledged the precarious balance artists must maintain between their professional and personal lives, citing the stressors that arise when one neglects their humanity for the sake of their craft. "Being human is my job, everytime someone books me, I have to draw from the actual reality of it, and if I haven't lived the actual reality of it, there is nothing to draw from. "So when I was doing three season of 'The Wife' with barely no time to be human, it became dangerous to say at what point am I going to go back and be human again. And at the same time, the human was starting to go crazy." Watch the full podcast below.
TimesLIVE
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
I couldn't even afford an Uber: former Generations actor Thabiso Mokhethi
Former Generations actor Thabiso Mokhethi has opened up on his financial difficulties. Thabiso discussed the emotional and monetary issues he faced after being let go from the popular soapie. He shared that he couldn't afford necessities and had an existential crisis when he lost all his material wealth. He opened up about his financial struggles during an episode on popular YouTube podcast Engineer Your Life. He explained how he couldn't afford the basics, such as food and transportation. 'There were times when, as an unemployed man, I couldn't even afford an Uber. Sometimes, I didn't have food to eat.' The actor, who also portrayed Musa on Rhythm City, revealed how he struggled to adjust from being a provider to a dependant. 'Coming from a position where I could provide for my family, to suddenly relying on others was a bitter pill to swallow. I know this is a reality for many people, but this is my story,' he shared. Thabiso isn't the only star who has faced hard times after his career on the small screen ended. Recently we've seen a number of actors who have faced financial difficulties with some resorting to asking for donations. They include veteran actress Nandi Nyembe, former Isibaya actress Gcina Mkhize and former Skeen Saam actor Pebetsi Matlaila.
News24
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Reality TV star Ratile says she experienced drama for years before it was public
Though they presented a united front for two seasons on The Mommy Club, Ratile Mabotja, famously known as Ratile Mabitsela, and her late estranged husband Lehlogonolo Mabitsela were putting out a lot of fires behind closed doors. When he died by suicide in February, the two were separated and in the process of divorce. Before his death, during separation and after his death, there were claims made about the former couple. Many flocked to her interview with Lungelo Mdletshe on the Engineer Your Life podcast. This was the first time she had an interview after the death of Mabitsela. Names were not mentioned in the interview, and neither the presenter nor the beauty queen were specific about situations. However, there are those who know that, since her The Mommy Club fame in 2023, Mabotja's private life and battles have been made public. The drama followed her till her estranged husband's death and burial. As cagey as she was in the interview – and some subjects were avoided, with the host saying it was too early – some things were addressed and she opened up about her loss. Speaking about the loss of her estranged husband, Mabotja said the public had showered her with love and support during the difficult time. Though she presented a strong front, she had the nation behind her at the time she felt as if she had to deal with the worst. Asked about her recovery, the beauty queen said she was healing every day, adding that she and her children were in therapy, which they attended once a week. "[The loss] left me traumatised. More trauma than anything. Having to also feel the absence. We would have conversations with the kids. Now we constantly have to revisit it. It's a journey," she said. She explained: He will always be the father of my children, whether we were married [or] divorced. There will not be any other person who will say now this is the father. I really do think that he did mean a lot to my children, and there are certain things that need parents. I don't want to see my children break down because [dad is not there]. Mabotja said she was not the only one who had lost someone; a mother lost a son, people lost a brother and uncle. She hoped that they would support one another because what they had in common was grief, however, her family came through for her. "I am grateful for my family, each and every one of them. There are two of his aunts who came through proper, and I am grateful for them. The people that mattered showed up." In the interview, she hailed her mother as the most supportive mother, who has always been there for her. Speaking about the drama before and after the death of her estranged husband, Mabotja said that was the negativity she had witnessed over the years, but it was only being made public now. She said this was not new for her, but she constantly chose to walk away for her peace. She said: Sometimes winning a fight means walking away and being okay with walking away. If you have to get in the mud, it's probably going to hurt you more than it hurts the other person. Even though her name was dragged, she said she did not need apologies from anyone. Having gone through all the pain, the businesswoman said she still believed in love. THE MOMMY CLUB The interview touched on the two seasons the reality TV star spent with The Mommy Club on Showmax. Just like the current cast members, the former The Mommy Club cast member pointed out longer hours of shooting. Mabotja said the show took her away from her children, and she felt guilty for not spending quality time with them. She said every time the show aired, she would be anxious because some things she shot were omitted during editing. The former Mrs South Africa contestant shared about the new chapter of her life, saying she was taking up mentoring and pageant coaching, especially for young people in townships.
IOL News
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Sipha Lee reflects on Big Brother experience
Sipha Lee, former Big Brother housemate, reflects on his experiences in the show. Image: Instagram The recent controversy surrounding former Big Brother housemate Sipha Lee has sparked a heated debate about bullying, accountability, and the consequences of one's actions. In a series of interviews and podcasts, Sipha Lee has opened up about his experiences in the Big Brother house, including his involvement in the notorious "Bandana Boys" crew and the bullying allegations that have followed him since his eviction. Sipha Lee's journey in the Big Brother house was marked by controversy, particularly with regards to his treatment of fellow housemates Uyanda Hlangabezo. The Bandana Boys, consisting of Sipha Lee, Ezra, Luzuko, and Swiss, were accused of bullying Uyanda, with Sipha Lee being singled out as the primary perpetrator. The bandana boys, Sipha Lee, Swiss, Luzuko and Ezra Image: X Their competitiveness was put to the test during the head of house challenge, where Sipha Lee emerged victorious against Hlangabezo, who had held the title for only six hours. However, this victory marked the beginning of a tumultuous relationship between the two, according to Sipha Lee. The bullying allegations center around comments and jabs made by Sipha Lee about Uyanda's appearance, which sparked outrage online and led to widespread condemnation. Additionally, Sipha Lee was also accused of calling Muzi The Mbuzi names, and Abobo, Uyanda's friend, faced some bullying by the Bandana Boys. The public felt like there was a pattern to this behavior. Despite this, Uyanda remained vocal and assertive, refusing to be victimised. The tension escalated, leading to several verbal altercations between Uyanda and the Bandana Boys over the following weeks. Meanwhile, Uyanda has been met with an outpouring of love and support from the public, including lucrative endorsement deals and a significant increase in his social media following. His bravery in speaking out against bullying and his resilience has made him a beloved figure in the entertainment industry. In his interviews and podcasts, Sipha Lee has attempted to downplay his role in the bullying, claiming that he does not hate Uyanda and that his actions were simply a result of the competitive nature of the Big Brother house. However, his words have been met with skepticism, with many feeling that he is not taking full responsibility for his actions. Sipha Lee has also claimed that he is the one who initially got Uyanda a fanbase because people pitied him, which has been widely criticized as insensitive and dismissive of Uyanda's experiences. In his recent interview on Lungelo KM's podcast "Engineer Your Life" which was posted on Youtube on 08 April, Sipha Lee expressed regret and remorse for his actions, stating that he plans to apologize to Uyanda in private.
