He was meant to join the cast of the new season of the Showmax reality show Born Into Fame, which puts the spotlight on the children of famous parents. Rape-accused Donell Mbele, the son of TV personality Sonia Mbele, has been cancelled by the makers of the show due to the pending rape charge laid against him by his ex-girlfriend.

OUT!

Donell was meant to share snippets of his life as popular actress Sonia's child and the challenges faced being born in the limelight. A source close to the production company producing the show said, "The producers felt they would appear as rape apologists if they continued with him on the show.' Until he is proven innocent, only then will he get an opportunity to be part of the show. But it would put the company in a bad light to have someone who is being charged with rape on the show.' The previous cast members included AJ Mafokate and Owami Mafokate, who are both Arthur Mafokate's children; Phila Madlingozi, the son of Ringo Madlingozi; Robbie Malinga Jr, the son of the late Robbie Malinga; Shamiso Mosaka, Azania Mosaka's daughter; and the man of the moment, Tank The Rockstar, who is DJ Tira's son. The new cast members for the new season had not yet been revealed, but they were in the inception stages of shooting.

BAIL

Donell was released on R1,000 bail yesterday after his ex-girlfriend took to social media alleging that he had sexually assaulted her. "At first, I concentrated on it but later changed my mind." She asked him to stop and he did not despite repeatedly asking. "I remember another incident where he just got on top of me, pinned me down and forced himself onto me," she shared on social media. Donell was previously accused by another ex-girlfriend, Reokeditswe Makete, of rape and assault, but she later dropped the charges. His mother Sonia told ZiMoja that Donell would speak when the time was right. "A lot is going on." Goat Productions, behind the reality TV series Born Into Fame, which also produces Unfollowed and Life With Kelly Khumalo, had not responded to our questions at the time of publication.