Latest news with #Lebo
The Star
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Ster-Kinekor and Rampedi Media Network collaborate for a new entertainment experience
Masabata Mkwananzi | Updated 4 hours ago Experience the future of entertainment as Ster-Kinekor teams up with The Rampedi Media Network to transform cinemas into a vibrant stage for live podcasts. Blockbusters out, bold moves in, Ster-Kinekor and The Rampedi Media Network are flipping the script, turning the cinema into a stage for live podcasts and digital magic. This collaboration between cinema giant Ster-Kinekor and the Rampedi Media Network blends digital content creation with live entertainment like never before. Fans will experience a unique big-screen version of 'Seated with Lebo and Thato,' alongside live recordings of popular podcasts, including Thought Digest and AsMajita. It's a one-night-only event that fuses storytelling, real-time interaction, and immersive audio-visuals, bringing some of South Africa's boldest voices straight to the heart of a premier cinema. Speaking to The Star, Thato Rampedi, founder of The Rampedi Media Network, shared that the idea for the live podcast collaboration with Ster-Kinekor had been in the works for several months. He explained that when the Africa Podcast Network proposed partnering with Ster-Kinekor, they recognised it as an unmissable opportunity. 'We were excited about the chance to do something revolutionary, new, and innovative that would allow our audience to connect with us in a unique way,' he said. He added that hosting the event in a cinema was a suggestion they gladly embraced. 'The cinema space will provide an immersive experience for our audience, enhancing how they consume our content. With everything projected onto the screen, it will be an experience of a lifetime.' Rampedi emphasised that this event signals a bold new era for South African digital content, rooted in real people and real stories. 'Creators must push boundaries and bring content to life through live, immersive experiences that truly engage audiences.' Lynne Wylie, Ster-Kinekor's chief marketing officer, echoed this enthusiasm, explaining that repurposing cinema spaces for more than just films is a growing priority. 'Looking at ways to repurpose our cinema space for events other than showing top-rated films is very much on our radar. For this reason, we are very excited about this upcoming collaboration opportunity with House of Rampedi to host an interactive podcast recording with a live audience at one of our premier cinema complexes.' She noted the high demand for tickets and expressed enthusiasm for upcoming events: 'Tickets are already selling fast, and given the positive response, we're eager to host more similar experiences in the near future.' Ster-Kinekor's The Zone in Rosebank will set the stage for a groundbreaking night this Thursday at 18:00, as Rampedi Media Network brings digital storytelling to life in a live podcast experience like no other. The Star [email protected]
The Citizen
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Cinema meets conversation as House of Rampedi goes live at The Zone @ Rosebank
Cinema meets conversation as House of Rampedi goes live at The Zone @ Rosebank The lights dimmed and the cameras rolled, but not for your usual blockbuster. On July 17, Ster-Kinekor at The Zone @ Rosebank will swap the silver screen for a spotlight as it plays host to an electrifying live podcast event, in collaboration with The Rampedi Media Network. Read more: Cinemas fight back: Nu Metro and Bounce team up to reinvent family entertainment At the heart of this collaboration is digital content creator and storyteller Thato Rampedi, whose media network is leading the charge in turning everyday conversations into cultural moments. Alongside his brother, Lebo, their popular podcast: Seated with Lebo and Thato, has built a loyal following for its honest take on identity, relationships, and growth. 'We're excited to bring digital storytelling to life in a completely new way,' said Rampedi. 'It's more than just a show; it's about connecting with people, in person, through stories that matter.' The evening promises an all-star lineup from the House of Rampedi, including Thought Digest, hosted by Mammi_Dearest and Caiah, and the much-loved AsMajita Collective featuring Gontse, Percy ASF, and the Rampedi brothers themselves. Audiences can expect raw conversations, lively audience engagement, and a few surprise announcements. Ster-Kinekor's chief marketing officer Lynne Wylie said the cinema giant is eager to explore new ways to use its spaces. 'This is an exciting new chapter for us. Bringing podcasts into a live cinema setting creates a whole new kind of entertainment experience.' As digital creators increasingly blur the line between screen and stage, this one-night event offers fans the rare chance to step into the world they usually only hear, and with tickets flying fast, it's clear that South Africans are more than ready to tune in… Live and in person. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
TimesLIVE
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Gospel star Lebo Sekgobela makes acting debut in upcoming Mzansi Bioskop film 'Ingozi'
Gospel star Lebo Sekgobela is set to make her acting debut in the upcoming Mzansi Bioskop drama Ingozi, premiering on July 20 at 7.30pm. Best known for her powerful vocals and the chart-topping worship anthem Lion of Judah, Lebo takes on the role of Zanele in the emotionally charged film. Ingozi follows the story of Sandile, a gifted young man with dreams of making it big as a kwaito musician, but his path to success is anything but smooth. Caught between chasing his passion and escaping the dangerous criminal world his uncle has pulled him into, Sandile faces the ultimate test of character. Set against the gritty and vibrant backdrop of South Africa's music scene, Ingozi is a tale of ambition, resilience and the fight to rise above one's circumstances. Speaking to TshisaLIVE, Lebo opened up about her first acting experience. 'Being part of the Ingozi cast was a dream come true. They taught me so much and I got to work with an amazing and talented cast and crew,' she said. 'Wow, the set was incredible and they treated me well. I had to put on a different hat, acting is such a beautiful form of art, especially when you work with professionals. I relate so much to my character, Zanele. She's amazing and also musical.' The gospel singer expressed gratitude for the opportunity and hinted at more to come. 'God has my future covered. I believe greater opportunities are coming — the sky is the limit.'
SowetanLIVE
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- SowetanLIVE
Clive Mathibe and Lebohang Toko prove that you can't hurry love
Film director Clive Mathibe and musical-theatre multi-hyphenate Lebohang Toko seal their 17-year love story with an epic celebration. The meeting Lebo: I thought he was an arrogant little somebody on campus, the senior who is so full of himself. Our love story took shape four years later in Grahamstown in James Ngcobo's Touch My Blood play. On the first night, we saw each other and I was like, 'Not this guy again.' Clive: We went to Tshwane University of Technology and I was ahead of Lebo by three years. I was doing my drama degree and Lebo was at the musical-theatre department. When we saw each other after four years, I was like, 'Oh my god, this guy is so hot.' He wore a black velvet tracksuit. I told the friend who was with me that I was in love and was going for him. The dating life Clive: I drove back to Joburg with two of my friends, one of whom was the actress in the play I was directing in Grahamstown. I remember thinking I needed to see him again, and called him. Lebo: He asked me out to dinner and we never stopped seeing each other. Dating was fun; he would pick me up after my show and we would sing along to Beyoncé, go out, eat, party — and neither of us was broke because we were both working in the industry. The lightbulb moment Clive: We were back together after a seven-month breakup and had finished eating dinner at Lebo's place. As we were washing the dishes, we got into a real conversation. I told him that I wanted this and wanted us to go to the next level and build a life together.
The Guardian
17-06-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
South Africa is at the heart of the HIV pandemic. What happens now the money has been cut?
Lebo is very afraid. She used to go to a clinic where sex workers such as her could get HIV medication without facing discrimination. But the dispensary, in Johannesburg's run-down central Hillbrow district, shut down in January, when Donald Trump cut US funding to the global HIV response. 'I'm weak. I'm an old woman,' says the 62-year-old. 'So please, we need help; we are suffering.' Lebo, who only wants her first name shared, is now spending 30% of her monthly income of 1,500 rand (£62) on antiretroviral (ARV) medication. The situation in South Africa, the centre of the world's HIV pandemic, is a 'crisis', says Ramphelane Morewane, who leads the HIV/Aids response in the country's health ministry. Lebo will not go to a government clinic again, after being shouted at and refused treatment. 'They said, 'Go back, it's not your clinic. It's not me that said that [the sex workers'] clinic must close; it's not my problem.' I was crying,' Lebo says. • The countries of eastern and southern Africa are at the centre of the HIV/Aids epidemic, and are home to about half of all people living with HIV. • In 2023 the number of people living with HIV was 7.7 million in South Africa, about 12% of the population. Adult HIV prevalence exceeds 10% of the population in Eswatini, Botswana, Lesotho and Zimbabwe. • Globally, in 2023 there were 1.3 million new cases to add to the world total of about 39.9 million people. Of those, 53% are women and girls. Since the start of the epidemic in 1981, 42.3 million people have died of Aids-related illness. • In the early days, Aids denialism in Europe and North America caught on in South Africa and became a huge problem for medical professionals. The intervention of Nelson Mandela in 2000 is thought to have turned the tide. •The UN-agreed target (Sustainable Development Goal) is to end Aids as a public health threat by 2030 and to dramatically reduce new HIV infections, but it is not on track. In 2023, about 7.7 million people were living with HIV in South Africa according to UNAids, roughly 12% of the population. However, the government's approach to HIV in recent decades is a world away from former president Thabo Mbeki's denialism in the 2000s. New infections were less than a third of what they were in 2000, according to the UNAids data, while deaths were a fifth of the 260,000 seen at the epidemic's peak in 2004. But because of the loss of US aid, which the South African government said was meant to be 7.6bn rand (£316m) for the 12 months to March 2026, accounting for 17% of that year's funding for the HIV response, those gains are under threat. Trump ordered a 90-day freeze on US foreign aid, which included the 'president's emergency plan for Aids relief' (Pepfar), hours after taking office on 20 January. Within weeks, South African clinics serving 'key populations' – minority groups particularly vulnerable to contracting HIV, such as sex workers, trans women, men who have sex with men, and injecting drug users – that had been receiving Pepfar funding had to shut their doors. In February, Trump signed an executive order specifically cutting aid to South Africa, accusing it of racial discrimination against white minority Afrikaners. Unpublished South African government data obtained by Reuters showed that viral-load testing, which indicates whether people with HIV are preventing it from progressing to Aids, had fallen up to 21% in March and April for groups including pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants and 15- to 24-year-olds. Among those who were tested, the percentage who had successfully suppressed the virus fell 3.4% in March and 0.2% in April. Experts have accused the government of South Africa's president, Cyril Ramaphosa, of not making up for the lost funds and downplaying the issue. 'We are seeing this from African governments across the region, and it's denial and it's completely predictable,' says Prof Francois Venter, a researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand (known as Wits), adding: 'It's embarrassing when you're supposed to be able to run your own programmes. South Africa is particularly revolting, because they actually do have the resources.' Morewane says his department requested emergency funding from the treasury, which said it was evaluating the request. 'A recommendation will be made to the minister of finance once the process has concluded. Unfortunately, we do not have a timeline at the moment,' a spokesperson said by email. Morewane says that, in the meantime, government clinics have been following up individually to transfer patients of specialist services that have been shut down. Palesa Mafoko used to get her ARVs every three months at the 'hotspot' east of Pretoria, where she is a sex worker. She praised the mobile clinic run by the Wits reproductive health and HIV institute (Wits RHI), which had nine (now-shut) HIV clinics for sex workers and transgender people in four provinces. 'It was outstanding. They were very patient with me. They would ask how was I, how am I feeling today,' the 37-year-old says. In mid-February, Mafoko says, she and five other sex workers were turned away from a government clinic, with staff saying they needed referrals. Mafoko, who has been HIV positive for four years, is now no longer taking ARVs, which she said she cannot afford to buy herself. 'I do have blood just like anyone else. My choice of career is the one that gives me a bed. So I don't want to be denied services because of the choice of my career,' she says. South Africa's government cannot easily rebuild the networks among vulnerable communities that have been shattered, says Minja Milovanovic, a Wits researcher who is investigating the impact of the funding cuts. 'You've lost the trust of individuals who have been used to accessing your services,' she says. 'Trust takes years to build with some of the most vulnerable populations – which was literally destroyed overnight.' Amanda, 39, was employed as an outreach worker at the Wits RHI clinic in Hillbrow, in central Johannesburg, but she has been forced back to touting for clients. On a bench outside a nearby park, two women immediately started talking to her in a mixture of languages. 'HIV is going to kill us,' one says. Amanda is also HIV positive and does not want to go to a government clinic, where she fears rejection. Just as she was about to run out of ARVs, she managed to get a client to buy two months' worth of medication. 'I said it was for someone at home, because otherwise I would lose a client,' she says. Meanwhile, there are fears of a surge in new infections. Globally, Pepfar provided about 90% of the drug pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Taken correctly, PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by 99%. 'There are people, unfortunately, who are going to fall through the cracks,' says Johan Hugo, who ran a now-shut clinic for men who have sex with men, metres from Cape Town's picturesque V&A Waterfront. 'I dealt with … someone who was chased out of the house, who was doing sex work to survive, who was doing drugs. I mean, how can you think that person is just going to be resilient?' Sparkle (not her real name), a transgender woman, lost her job with the Wits RHI transgender clinic in Hillbrow in February, along with a free supply of PrEP. She worries her boyfriend is having sex with other people and could infect her with HIV. She also lost access to gender-affirming hormones, which enabled her to grow breasts and feel like herself. 'It helped me a lot, to a point whereby I'm so proud when I walk in the community, whereby I'm not afraid of anything,' she says. 'It's taking me back again to say I don't have hormone pills.'
