Latest news with #Sbu
The South African
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The South African
Local fashion designer looks to launch SA's first car brand
Skinny Sbu, who is best known for his fashionable sock line has made a move into the automative industry. Sbu has been working on a locally created and manufactured car brand since 2022. South Africa's century-old automotive sector is at the precipice of a definitive change. South Africa has enjoyed decades of production and assembly of globally created brands, but the country has never launched a commercially viable brand of its own. This is what Sbu hopes to address with his SSS car brand. In the commercial sense, no, but there are a few niche automotive brands from the country. For instance, Birkin Cars, known for producing Lotus-styled sports cars and has been doing so since the 1980s. There is also Bailey Cars, a brand the specialises in hand-built replicas usually for international markets. Finally, we also have Advanced Automotive Design (ADD) a boutique manufacturer who focus on futuristic looking concept cars. Sbu may very well have found himself an open lane with his SSS Cars. The Forbes 30-Under-30 honouree, made more than a few ripples in the fashion industry from very early on in his career with the launch of Skinny Sbu Socks. Sibusiso Ngwenya, or Sbu September as he has become affectionately known, saw his premium fashion brand earn international acclaim when he was featured on CNN. His socks were also included in a Grammy Awards gift bag in 2022. His socks have also found space on the shelves of large clothing franchises like The Foschini Group as well as Superbalist. News of his plans to launch SSS Cars garnered him praise from the highest office in the land, with President Cyril Ramaphosa commending his intentions. Sbu's automotive startup, SSS Cars, is looking to define what African luxury looks like on the roads. Since its inception in 2022, his company has quietly gone about creating its first lineup of premium vehicles. These are designed with a younger global demographic in mind, with a focus on style rather than legacy. The young visionary would like nothing more than for his cars to be as culturally impactful as his line of socks has been. SSS Cars is raising funding with a hefty amount needed to see this vision come to fruition. His dream is likely to cost upwards of R270 million, but this move should help put South Africa on the map as an automotive creator and not solely a renowned assembler. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Rugby to idlozi? Sbu Nkosi fuels rumours with IG return
After being hit by a doping ban and a public mental health battle, former Sharks and Bulls player Sbu Nkosi has fuelled rumuors he has answered an ancestral calling. The 'bad boy' of rugby returned to Instagram after a lengthy hiatus. After more than a year of taking an Instagram break, Sbu Nkosi returned to his feed with a 'thirst-trap' pic. The 29-year-old was shirtless, wearing an ancestral cloth around his waist. He captioned the pic: 'Slow is smooth and smooth is fast'. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SbuNkosi (@sbu_nkosi14) In the comments section, Sbu Nkosi thanked his followers for their well-wishes. For those who questioned if they would ever see him play rugby again, he responded: 'It's gonna be a while. But I'll bring back a savage beast of a player'. It's not the first time Sbu has hinted at responding to idlozi (ancestors). In 2023, he posted a picture of himself wearing another ancestral cloth with a caption that included a telephone emoji. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SbuNkosi (@sbu_nkosi14) In the comments section, followers commented on the ancestral welcome greeting: 'Thokoza'. Media personality Minnie Dlamini was one of them, commenting: 'It all makes sense'. Sbu Nkosi has been embroiled in a series of scandals throughout his professional rugby career. Last year, he was slapped with a three-year ban after testing positive for an anabolic steroid commonly used by bodybuilders. At the time, he was signed to the Cheetahs, who reportedly offered him a 'lifeline'. Just months before signing with the Gauteng club, Sbu Nkosi's contract with the Bulls was terminated with immediate effect. During his tenure at the club, Sbu went AWOL in 2022 and used his Instagram account to throw shade at his club. Sbu Nkosi has made headlines over the years for all the wrong reasons. Images via Instagram: @sbu_nkosi14 According to TimesLive , Sbu – who cited mental health struggles for his absence – did the same at the Sharks, too. Speaking in a press conference in 2023, Bulls bossJake White expressed his concern about the player's decline. He said of Sbu: 'He's not playing well enough, he's not training hard enough, I don't see him enough for him to warrant selection above guys who have been training in the group anyway….I think he battles with whatever [that's bothering him]. 'My gut feeling is that I don't think he battles with anything other than that he needs to get his life sorted. He continued: 'He was married and had a child, but he's now got a girlfriend, and he's got two kids with her. If that was my son and he was 26, 27 years old, I would worry about him'. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
TimesLIVE
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
'My turn to return the favour': Sbu Malawyer celebrate 25 years in kwaito
Kwaito legend Sibusiso 'Sbu Malawyer' Ntshangase is preparing to mark 25 years as a solo artist with a celebration that promises to be a love letter to the genre that shaped a generation. The Soweto-born artist, known for timeless hits like Amalawyer and Mzala, will headline a special anniversary event at the historic Eyethu Lifestyle Centre in Soweto on August 2. The event will feature artists such as Joe Nina, Thebe, DJ Sbu, Spikiri, Jakarumba, DJ Cleo, DJ Ganyani, Ma-E and more. Sbu told TshisaLIVE the celebration, inspired by the release of his 2023 album, will bring kwaito legends and rising stars featured on the album together under one roof to showcase the genre's power, evolution and enduring relevance. 'The reason I am doing this event is because even though the album was nominated for the Sama Awards in 2024, I feel like there is still much more to be done with it,' he said. More than just a concert, the event aims to be a cultural experience blending nostalgia with purpose. From live performances and branded activations to social impact campaigns, Sbu is turning the spotlight not just on himself but on the kwaito movement's past, present and future. The event will also honour 30 years of kwaito in South Africa, with a musical theatre project in the works to celebrate the genre's roots and how it has influenced modern sounds like amapiano. Sbu's 2021 release Amalawyer Reloaded, a amapiano reimagining of his breakout hit, is proof kwaito's DNA is still alive in today's music. Today Sbu continues to mentor young talent, offering them a platform — just as he was once offered. 'I was able to crack into the music industry with help from legends. Now it's my turn to return the favour.'
News24
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Chicken Licken cries fowl as ad board rules KFC copied its characters
Chicken Licken has won a complaint against KFC at the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB), after accusing its rival of copying iconic characters from its ad campaigns. The dispute centred on KFC's recent 'All Star Box' YouTube commercial, which Chicken Licken claimed featured lookalikes of its well-known characters Sbu and David 'Legs of Thunder' Mgijimi. The 'All Star Box' ad centres on a protagonist who enjoys a meal while accompanied by clones of himself, emphasising the box meal's value. The storyline introduces two additional characters who observe the protagonist and then decide to order the same meal for themselves. Chicken Licken submitted that KFC's advertisement used characters resembling its own without permission. According to Chicken Licken, these characters are central to its brand image and have been featured in its ads for years. Since KFC and Chicken Licken are direct competitors in the fast-food market, the complainant felt this was a calculated move. It further claimed KFC's ad wasn't just borrowing ideas; it was outright imitation. KFC denied that it had copied anything deliberately and described the ad as a parody meant to highlight the appeal of the 'All Star Box.' No names or products were included in the ad, KFC said, and it didn't mention Chicken Licken at all. A line in the ad used the term 'salty,' which Chicken Licken also took issue with. KFC argued it was slang meaning someone was envious and that it wasn't meant as a jab at Chicken Licken's food. After reviewing the complaint and the ad, the ARB ruled in favour of Chicken Licken. It noted undeniable similarities between the characters in KFC's ad and Chicken Licken's. According to the ARB, KFC undermined its rival's advertising efforts, as both parties are close competitors in the fast-food industry and recycling its original advertising dilutes its marketing value. The ARB said that humour or parody cannot be used as an excuse when it results in copying or exploiting ideas that help identify a competing brand. In its ruling, the board found KFC to be in breach of the advertising code, which specifically bans mimicry that harms a competitor's advertising value. KFC was told to pull the plug on its 'All Star Box' commercial across all platforms immediately.
