She recently launched her Summer Steve Madden collection. To celebrate the milestone and partnership deal, media darling, Bonang Matheba hosted Steve Madden parties in Durban, Cape Town, and closed off at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Johannesburg. American shoe designer, Steve Madden, himself delivered a pre-recorded message celebrating the ten years of the success of the brand in South Africa. 

BOOKED PRIOR

Billed to MC the show was BET presenter and KwaZulu-Natal beauty, Nomalanga Shozi, who was requested months before the glamorous bash. But at the last hour, Nomalanga had to be cancelled by the team and according to an insider, Bonang is allegedly behind the cancellation. "She said she does not want that girl there," a source revealed even though, "Nomalanga is coming in strong as a TV host." According to the insider, Nomalanga had already been paid upfront to do the job. "The deal was done, but when Bonang saw her name on the list, she refused. She even insisted on paying back the refund herself. The insider says Nomalanga was informed by the Steve Madden team that they would be taking a different direction. "Nonsense! What direction? At least they left her to keep the deposit but imagine if she had made the announcement. It was disheartening for her to hear that it was in fact someone whom she respected in the industry," the source said.

REPLACED!

Nomalanga was replaced by radio and TV presenter, Zanele Potelwa, who dazzled. "Zanele did an amazing job as the host. As usual, she did not disappoint, and really, she knows nothing about what has been happening behind the scenes." The source says, Nomalanga however has a big gig that she bagged and will announce it on tomorrow morning. "She has big things coming up. A big presenting gig will be announced tomorrow. So, no amount of door closures will stand in her way." Nomalanga's team refused to comment on the matter.

TALENT GROOMING 

Bonang recently announced that she will be opening a talent grooming business. Where she will be grooming "the next Bonang Matheba." Speaking to Thando Thabethe on 947, Bonang said, "We have so many superstars, but why aren't they where they need to be? We don't know how to cultivate them, provide for them, and move them to where they need to be." She added that, "It's like a power production agency, part talent hub because South Africans are great and we are fantastic, but we have not mastered talent management, and there's no governance in our entertainment industry," Bonang concluded. Attempts to get a comment from Bonang were unsuccessful.

Bonang Matheba and Zanele Potelwa