Author: Dumani Moyo

Cosmo City’s entertainer DA WHITE BOII recently went viral on social media after recording a short video making fun of a picture of the well-known Amapiano Music producers DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small.

 In the picture, DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small pose wearing durags on their heads. In the video DA WHITE BOII asks DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small to remove doeks (head scarfs) from their heads as it ruined their dressing style.  Kabza De Small responded with a live video explaining that it was not a doek, but a durag. DA WHITE BOII’s video got more engagements on Facebook with more than eight thousand views.

“I do these funny videos to gain people’s trust,” DA WHITE Boll said. “I believe that if people trust me that I can do funny videos, they will trust me about any type of work.”

Born Tshepo Steve Junior Rakhudu the 21-year-old ventured into the entertainment industry in 2012 during the “Izikhothane” era.  Not only is DA WHITE BOII a DJ, he is also a vocal artist, dancer, fashion stylist and (as brand owner and founder of @KHONTAGE_SA) an entrepreneur.

 “The funny videos that trend in social media have gained me some fan base. People are now more familiar with my face and it is going to be easy for them to follow my work,” he said. “Sometimes I tend to offend people that I joke about. When my video of Kabza De Small and Dj Maphorisa started to trend, Kabza responded to me on social media. We talked about the video, and I explained to him that it was a joke. So there was no bad blood. If people feel like I am insulting them, I am sorry. I am just hustling.”

DA WHITE BOII said he wants to do more funny videos ranging from entertainment to politics.

“How could we prevent Corona Virus without water?” said Edith Ngwenya of extension 5, speaking on water crisis which has seen some residents going for days without water.

 Cosmo City faced water crisis in the early hours of Sunday 22 March. Residents who spoke to the Chronicle expressed their displeasure about the development, claiming that it exposes them to COVID 19.

“Just imagine how our lives would be like if we go for a three-week national shutdown without water,” said another resident who preferred to be only identified as Mnqobi. “There is no life without water,” he added, “so if the situation of water crisis is not solved quickly, our lives will be in danger. We have tried to report the situation to the local authorities, but we are yet to be sorted out.”

Water crisis has put misery to our lives in addition to the power cuts, Mnqobi said. Ward Councillor Mapule Mosito said she had received some complaints about lack of water at Barbuda Street in extension 5. “We have heard that there are some houses without water in extension 5. We are working on restoring the situation.”

More than 30 Rumba artists united to perform and revive the Rumba music genre in Kyasand informal settlement on 14 March 2020, with hundreds of people attending the event.

Rumba music fans from Msawawa, Pipeline, Cosmo City and Lion Park attended the 12 pm to 8pm event. The artists who performed included Inkunzi KaSilanke and Lupane Original Stars, Tshaputika and St Paul Express Band, Obadiah Mathulana, and Cosmas Mpofu and Universal.

“I started recording Rumba music in 1995,” said Inkunzi ka Silanke. “Rumba music is not getting enough airplay in radio stations. We want to popularise it and we are also trying to give opportunity to the upcoming artists. Our aim as Rumba artists is to keep the public entertained.”

Music industry could also contribute to job creation, he said. “We do music for a living and sometimes it becomes an opportunity for the youth to get employed in the industry.”

 Rumba concerts will continue to be hosted every month from township to township to promote artists.

It is necessary to support musicians despite having different social backgrounds, said Caroline Moyo of Umthwakazi Funerals. We came here to support and let people know about the importance of funeral policies,” she said. “Most Rumba artists are struggling to reach to the top because they do not get enough coverage from the media.”

It is always a great moment to see a lot of artists coming together to entertain people, said Msawawa resident Nkosinathi Maphumulo. “Most of their songs have messages, and we are learning a lot from them.”

Residents in Malibongwe Ridge (Eskom) have expressed concern about the current number                      of illegal dumpsites in their community, claiming that the situation is damaging property and        exposing them to health hazard.

Residents feel the City of Johannesburg somehow forgets their community.

“We are living in fear of Corona Virus and these dumpsites are increasing our fear of      diseases,” said a community member Mbalenhle Mpofu. “There are a lot of potential health                risks that come with dump sites.

There is need for people to be taught about the negative outcomes of illegal dumping,                 Mpofu noted.

Tebogo Magagula said ‘’we are living in informal settlements and we are forced to          normalise the abnormal situation. We are facing a very bad smell on a daily basis and it is               not healthy, especially for children who normally play near those sites.

Reuben Makhubele said the community forums leaders and local authorities should take             responsibilities. “I think the community needs more dust bins. If we fail to combat illegal   dumping, people will die of diseases.

Illegal dumping also encourages pests, according to Alex Frost of Ecoculture Sechaba      Foundation. Those pests that are found in illegal dumpsites carry diseases that can harm                 residents and infrastructure. As a result, it turns away tourists and encourages crime.”

Efforts to get comments from Pikitup were fruitless as they could not answer our calls. ]��永�S��