List of 4 musicians who are candidates in replacing Somizi as Idols SA judge

Multichoice released a statement on Friday, 6 August confirming that media personality Somizi Mhlongo will be taking “taking some time off” until the abuse allegations made against him by his estranged husband, Mohale Motaung, have been resolved.

SOMIZI’S CAREER AT RISK FOLLOWING ABUSE ALLEGATIONS
Mohale Motaung accused his husband of physically abusing him, sabotaging his career opportunities, and revealed an “arrangement” about their s.e.x life. Somizi denied all the allegations made against him but confirmed that he will be getting a divorce.

Following the abuse allegations, the SABC announced Somizi will be “taking some time off” from his radio gig on Metro FM. Multichoice also released a statement confirming that Somizi will be stepping down from his role on the judging panel of Idols SA.

The broadcasting company stated that Somizi will still appear on pre-recorded episodes until 22 August. So, who will replace Somizi in the episodes to follow? There have been four guest judges for this season so far. Could one of them take Somizi’s spot?

Here’s a look at what Tweeps of each of the guest judges.

1. PRINCE KAYBEE
   Season 17 of Idols SA kicked off in July with Prince Kaybee as the guest judge, following his performance of Gugulethu on the Idols SA stage in the previous season. Prince Kaybee is a well-established DJ and producer and knows his way around the music and entertainment industry, but would he make a good replacement for Somizi?

Tweeps seems to think Prince Kaybee was too harsh on contestants and pointed out that he can’t sing himself. So as much as he may know the industry they weren’t impressed with his judging overall.

1. NTOKOZO MBAMBO
   Gospel singer Ntokozo Mbambo was the next guest judge and Tweeps were very impressed with her singing and judging, some even said she stole the show.

2. RINGO MADLINGOZI
   Ringo Madlingozi is a singer, songwriter, record producer and a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa. Tweeps thought he made a good judge on the show and he should be given a permanent position.

3. ZWAI BALA
   Kwaito and gospel musician Zwai Bala was next to the test waters at the judging panel and Tweeps were neutral about judging skills. While one Tweep mentioned that Zwai Bala could be Somizi’s replacement, another thought he was annoying.

Another blow: Somizi replaced by DJ Tira

Local footwear brand Bathu is the latest company to give media personality Somizi Mhlongo a wide berth amid allegations of abuse by his estranged husband Mohale Motaung.

The publication has learnt that the sneaker makers had a meeting with Mhlongo this week that resulted in his absence from their 28th store opening at Gateway Theatre of Shopping in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

Mhlongo, who is a brand ambassador and has a special sneaker line in collaboration with the locally manufactured shoe, was replaced by Durban favourites DJ Tira and his protégées, the former Idols contestants Viggy and Virginia Qwabe.

On Friday, Bathu head of marketing Mashudu Ndopu declined to divulge details surrounding Mhlongo’s absence at the store’s opening.

“We are currently going through internal processes … I will be able to talk on Monday at the latest,” she said.

Metro FM took the lead in giving the media personality some time off by muting his microphone on his popular radio show The Bridge with Dineo Ranaka.

In a statement released on Friday, television channel M-Net also announced that it had allowed the Idols judge some time off from the show to deal with matters involving his personal life.

Meanwhile, Motaung has remained in high spirits as other celebrities rally behind him and calls for support mount following his explosive revelations in last weekend’s edition of a local newspaper.

“I am okay. What can I say? It is what it is,” Motaung told the publication on Friday.

In January, the publication reported that the Mhlongo-Motaung marriage was rumoured to be on the rocks and that the couple were in talks ahead of divorce proceedings. Mhlongo denied the rumours and rubbished the report.

But in an audio recording obtained by a local publication, which has been widely shared on social media, Motaung cites physical abuse from as early as three weeks into their relationship as one of the contributing factors to their divorce.

Motaung alleges that Mhlongo chased him with a kitchen knife during an altercation at the former’s home.

I took my keys and walked out; he took a knife. I was about to exit, so he said to me: ‘If you exit … I’m going to kill us both.’ I took my keys and I ran. He grabbed the knife and said: ‘If you walk out I’m going to stab you.’ Now I see this different person.

Mohale Motaung

On Friday, in a lengthy response statement, Mhlongo denied the abuse allegations and said that he loved his estranged husband.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would one day have to defend my honour as a result of someone I have loved so deeply and so genuinely deliberately harming my reputation, [which] I’ve worked so hard to build,” he wrote.

“Our relationship had its ups and downs, but I have never been physically or knowingly emotionally abusive towards my estranged husband. I vehemently deny the allegations of criminal acts towards him and I would like to clear my name of that defamation.

“We had one altercation in which I had to defend myself and both of us were physically hurt by the other. I am at this stage not at liberty to dive deeper into the details, but can state that he is not a victim in this situation,” Mhlongo said.

In response to Mhlongo’s statement, Motaung alleged that the audio was leaked by producers of their reality TV show without his knowledge.

The conversations heard in that audio were privileged as they were with one of the producers of Living The Dream With Somizi. I trusted the person with whom I was engaging and did not divulge such details for any material gain. In these conversations, I was laying case to reason why I would not want the details of our divorce to be used in the upcoming season of the reality TV show as this would not reflect the complete truth and did not want the details thereof to be used for financial gain.

Mohale Motaung

Legend Manqele of BarLeader TV, the producers of Living The Dream With Somizi, did not answer calls and text messages sent to him.

Motaung said of the leaked audio: “Myself and the person in question had a personal relationship that has been built for years and I felt secure relaying my experience to him, having been assured that it was privileged. I never imagined that my turmoil would be exploited in this manner. Since the release of the conversations, I find myself stripped of my agency and the right I had previously reserved to tell my story when I was ready.”

He confirmed that he suffered abuse at the hands of the Idols judge and hoped to conclude his divorce from Mhlongo peacefully.