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OSCAR-nominated British actress Sophie Okonedo has bagged the starring role of struggle stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in a new film. Okonedo, who said in a recent interview that Madikizela-Mandela was a “real strong woman; she’s got balls”, was cast as the lead in the real-life drama produced by the BBC. The BBC said Okonedo, who starred in the acclaimed movie Hotel Rwanda with the Oscar-winning Don Cheadle, was bringing “one of the most extraordinary, if controversial, figures in recent history to the screen for the first time”. The 90-minute film, written and directed by Michael Samuels, and produced by Jolyon Symonds, was shot on location in Soweto. It focuses on the development of the relationship between Madikizela-Mandela and her former husband, Nelson Mandela, from their brief courtship in the 1950s until his release from prison in 1990. In an interview with London’s The Guardian newspaper, Okonedo, who also starred in The Secret Life of Bees, admitted to “ne

"Houston we have a problem." This was the first thing I thought of when I read that Chris Brown had anger problems in his life as he and his ex-girlfriend Rihanna have had two other incidences similar to that of February, resulting in him being arrested for beating up the Umbrella singer. READ: According to a probation officer’s report filed with the court for Brown’s sentencing, the incidents “related to domestic violence.” The first incident allegedly occurred in Europe three months earlier when Brown and Rihanna were in a “verbal dispute.” She slapped him, and Brown responded by shoving her into a wall, the report stated. Just three weeks before his February arrest for beating and threatening his ex-girlfriend after the Grammy Awards, the former couple was in Rihanna’s native Barbados. While driving, they had an argument. According to the report, Brown got out and broke both the driver’s and front passenger side windows. No one was injured, and the incident was not repo

Caster Semenya was escorted to the stage to dance to singer Chome’s song, Igama lamakhosikazi malibungwe, which means “The name of women must be thanked”. Fans chant ‘Viva Caster’ at airport Red carpet rolled out for Semenya Athletics South Africa president Leonard Chuene pleaded with South Africans not to be too angry about the ongoing controversy surrounding Semenya’s sex. "You have the right to be angry but please be angry responsibly. The problem of Caster not being a boy or a girl, doesn’t eminate from Australia but from here in South Africa. Home is the only place where we knew we can come back and get the support," he told the crowd – and then he took a swipe at the country’s whites. ANC Youth League President Julius Malema said on stage that South Africa is a country of heroes like Nelson Mandela. "Whether they like it or not she is a female. Where are the white South Africans to welcome Caster? Where are they? Why are we so divided?,” he said. “The white contro

A San Francisco web designer used Twitter to pop the question Thursday, asking his co-worker to marry him in what looks like might be the microblogging service’s first-ever second marriage proposal. Max Kiesler’s sweet tweet at 3:13 a.m. Thursday: "To @emilychang - After fifteen years of blissful happiness I would like to ask for your hand in marriage?" Emily Chang’s reply , a minute later: "@maxkiesler - yes, i do." Kiesler, who founded strategic design consultancy Ideacodes with Chang in 2005, confirmed Friday that the story of the proposal , as reported by Mashable, is true. Twitter co-founder Biz Stone said Kiesler’s proposal could, indeed, be a historic moment for the microblogging service, which has grown in popularity since making headlines at South by Southwest in 2007. "It’s hard to confirm for certain that it is the very first marriage proposal over Twitter," wrote Stone in an e-mail to Wired.com. "It may well be the first pu

MISS South Africa, Tatum Keshwar, is one of the 10 most beautiful women in the universe. KwaZulu-Natal- born Keshwar took seventh spot at the Miss Universe competition in Nassau, the Bahamas, at the weekend. She wrote on her Facebook page yesterday: “Did it for Africa last night at the Miss Universe pageant in the Bahamas! Hope I made you proud SA. Gave it my all and had a wonderful experience. Thank you for your love and support. It just wouldn’t be the same without it! Love you lots.” Keshwar and 84 other national beauties spent most of this month in the Bahamas before competing for the title on Sunday night. Venezuela’s Stefania Fernandez received the crown. Ada de la Cruz, from the Dominican Republic, was her first princess and Kosovo’s Marigona Dragusha the second princess. Keshwar, placed seventh in the evening gown section, wore a dress by Charlene Sauerman. Sue Klerck, Sun International’s public relations and marketing manager, told The Times: “We are thrilled that Tatum made i

Michael Jackson 's sister La Toya believes her brother was murdered. "I am thankful to the investigators for uncovering the truth to the world," she said in the statement released Tuesday to ABC News . "And I look forward to the day that justice will be served to all the parties involved in my brother's homicide." La Toya Jackson , 53, spoke out a day after it was revealed that the Los Angeles County Coroner ruled the King of Pop's death a homicide. A shocking police affidavit described the details of the tormented superstar's last night alive - and revealed Jacko's personal doctor injected him with "lethal levels" of the dangerous anesthetic propofol. Dr. Conrad Murray has been the chief target of a manslaughter investigation into his death but has not been charged. The homicide ruling makes it likely that the physician could soon face charges. A Jackson family lawyer, Londell McMillan , said the reports reaffirm the "very sa

Current Miss Teen SA Kopano Mocwane ORGANISERS of South Africa’s Miss Teen contest are injecting some much-needed sparkle into the pageant, which has lost much of its prominence since Raelene Rorke wore the crown five years ago. Resort giant Sun International, which owns the rights to the contest, has come up with a plan to ramp up the pageant’s profile — including holding the event during the September holidays so more young girls can participate. Sun International’s public relations and marketing manager, Sue Klerck, told The Times that this year they are calling for far more entries to the event,which is being staged at the Valley of the Waves at Sun City. The change of venue is also a fresh approach to the contest, previously staged in the resort’s more formal Superbowl. “Most title holders since Raelene Rorke or Zizo Beda have had no time to attend events as they were in matric or starting their first year in university,” Klerck said . However, she said it is difficult to get arou

Aim to turn girls into princesses FORMER Miss South Africa Jo- Ann Strauss is playing fairy godmother to scores of Cinderellas who wouldn’t make it to the ball without her. Strauss, who is also a presenter on TV show Top Billing, has marshalled her glamourous friends to donate some of their ball gowns and cocktail frocks to girls who cannot afford designer dresses for their matric farewell parties . Now Strauss is also planning to turn her Princess Project — which has already donated 70 frocks to deserving girls around the country — into a TV show, and will not only provide dresses to die for, but “also gives the girls a full makeover”. Those who have donated designer outfits include socialite and businesswoman Uyanda Mbuli, singers Louise Carver and Judith Sephuma, model and surfer Roxy Louw and former Miss Universe and TV presenter Michelle McLean. Also on the list are Generations actresses Sonia Sedibe and Sophie Ndaba and All Access presenter Tammy-Anne Fortuin. Strauss, who gave a

WIKUS van der Merwe is an unlikely name for a character in a Hollywood blockbuster. But — played by South African actor Sharlto Copley — he is the main character in the film District9, which was shot in Soweto and the Johannesburg inner city, and bagged the No1 spot in the US box-office rankings this weekend. District 9, made on a budget of 30-million (R245-million), made $37-million (R301-million) in its opening weekend — thrashing GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra, which cost $175-million (R1.4-billion) to make, and earned $22.5-million (R179-million) during its opening weekend. Now District 9 director Neil Blomkamp — who is a protege of Lord of the Rings trilogy mastermind Peter Jackson — has beco me one of the few South African filmmakers to hit the Hollywood big league. Copley, who is also a film director and Blomkamp’s friend, seems set for a career in Hollywood. He told Vanity Fair magazine that he loved playing roles in which he has a “bit of room to improvise on the character” . “Just

SOUTH African blogger Simon Botes got more than he bargained for when Amazing Race 2 winner Alex Boylan and cameraman Zsolt Luka found their way to his home in their quest to get Around the World For Free. Boylan is backpacking across four continents in six months — with no money, relying completely on his online followers for help — for the web-TV production Around the World for Free. He contacted Botes, who was following his adventures online, and asked for five days’ free accommodation at his home at The Crags, outside Plettenberg Bay. “It was quite exciting to hear from them as I was just following them on their website,” said Botes. “When they were making their way to South Africa they gave me a ring and asked if I could accommodate them. I did, in a cottage on a farm that I was living on.” Botes picked up Boylan and cameraman Luka in George after they were dropped off by someone they had been staying with in Cape Town. He treated them to the sights in his area, including Oudtshoo

AWARD-winning local movie Izulu Lami (My Secret Sky) opens here on Friday after wowing international audiences. The movie’s 12-year-old lead, Sobahle Mkhabase, bagged the best-actress award at Spain’s Tarifa film festival, where the film was voted best production in May. The Grade 6 pupil from Mayfair, in Durban, who plays the character Thembi, said the film’s success was “overwhelming”. “I never thought that I would get so many phone calls, interviews and attention ever in my life. Though I cried so much ... because I had to have my hair cut like it had been eaten like rats [but] it was all worth it. I am slowly starting to like the fame,” she laughed. The film, made almost entirely in Zulu, was shot earlier this year on a budget of R4.5-million. It features a number of young children with no professional acting skills who were discovered in KwaZulu-Natal’s townships and informal settlements. Director Madoda Ncayiyana, known for his 2002 Cannes-award- winning short film The Sky in Her

Flash presenter Rachel with birthday boy model Stevel Marc City Press magazine Editor, Lesley Mofokeng Gangs of Instrumentals There is more to come, tune in to Gabiville and you will see what exactly went down at Tumisho's big birthday bash!

O n Thursday last week, six grader Damon Weaver from the KEC TV News Team out of Kathryn E. Cunningham/Canal Point Elementary broke some big news about President Obama’s plan to address students across the country on September 8th. The eleven-year-old Pahokee, Florida native asked some great questions concerning low-income communities, basketball, school lunches – and even bullies. At the end of it all, Damon announced "President Obama is now my homeboy too." Gabiville Thinks : In his little voice, it felt like Obama was Papa Bear and the Grade 6 boy was Baby bear, too cute for words... And he just wants is Obama to be his homeboy...aaaaahhhhh Watch his report posted by White House news:

W hat is up with men this month, first Unathi Nkayi got attacked by some monstrous man, now King of Kwaito Arthur Mofokate has threatened pregnantYFM DJ Dineo Ranaka, all because she expressed her views on Chommie's imitation of the late Brenda Fassie and Lebo Mathosa live on air. All she said was: "I would have preferred a person like Kelly Khumalo to emulate these divas because she has a stronger voice." An Arthur called in full defense of Chommie, threatening Ranaka. Does he realise he is digging a grave on poor Chommie's career? Or is he just letting his EGO and MONSTROUS behaviour do the talking without thinking? Please behave thyself Arthur man! READ: Popular 999 Music boss Arthur Mofokate has allegedly threatened a three-months’ pregnant YFM DJ Dineo Ranaka – and during Women’s Month, nogal. When called for comment, Arthur said he did not want to sound rude or funny, but “I really wouldn’t like to comment on the matter”. On Friday, Ranaka, who hosts the afterno

O SCAR-winning actress Charlize Theron reckons she and boyfriend Stuart Townsend will have a big family. The 34-year-old said: "I just know I'm going to have five boys." South Africa-born Charlize, star of Monster and Hancock, has vowed she and the Irish actor will never marry until gay marriage is legalised. But she told Vogue magazine: "We've been together for almost nine years, so by now we've kind of realised that we're going to take this journey together." Her next film, sci-fi drama The Road, will be released in January. - Londn's Daily Mail

T his is an outrage, on Woman's Month a role model and public figure of the country MetroFM DJ Unathi Nkayi gets ssaulted infront of her children and fiance Thomas "Badboy" Msengana. No matter what had happened or who did what no man should lay a hand on a woman regardless who she is with. Poor Unathi, I can only imagine her trauma. READ: If you see Afro-jazz songbird and Metro FM DJ Unathi Nkayi heavily plastered with make-up behind her wedding frills next month, it won’t be because she wants to look gorgeous. It will be to camouflage bruises she sustained when she was moered by security guards in Jozi last week. The Avenue co-host was assaulted by security guards in the presence of her fiancé Thomas “Badboy” Msengane and their two kids in Sandton on Monday. Nkayi told the police she and her family were sitting in her BMW waiting for a friend when two security guards arrived in a Nissan Hardbody. She said they stopped next to their car. “I asked them what the problem was

I t's all good that Mrs Victoria Beckham has scored a £3million contract on American Idol, replacing Paula Abdul, but bosses of the hit show are said to still be worried about her image. I was wondering when that might come up, but channel executives Fox that broadcast the show, apparently are worried about "Posh Spice being too skinny and her British accent", as they say "it might put off the US viewers". Personally I think US viewers will love to see the fashion that Beckham will wear, but hey there is no guarantee on this evidently. READ: The 35-year-old has been given the stamp of approval by judge Simon Cowell and the maker of the show, Simon Fuller. But channel executives at Fox are concerned her skinny frame and British accent may put off US viewers. Mrs Beckham was only due to sit in as a guest judge for one episode of the talent search show. After her experience, she admitted she was incredibly nervous and said ' I know how it fe

I guess former Playboy mansion bunny Holly Madison thought her dress would be unique, but critics are calling it a "fashion faux pas" as Madison showed up in a brown and black frock at the Las Vegas premiere of The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard . READ: Her ‘interesting’ gown resembled a Halloween costume of the witch variety. We’re just saying…- Bitter and Bound But other critics seemed to think it was a "nice" dress: Arriving in a unique strapless gown, Holly Madison turned up for the Las Vegas premiere of “The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard” last night at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. Meanwhile, the Playboy model may be a former girlfriend of Hugh Hefner, but the Playboy mogul still shows his support – as Hugh recently visited her in Las Vegas to watch his ex perform her new show, “Peepshow.” Madison made sure Hefner was comfortable, buying him his favorite candy from the Sugarfactory candy store in the Mirage hotel for the tycoon. “She spent 30 minutes p

As a Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman has now dissapointed me as I think of him as one of the greatest actors that have intergrity and morals. Not that has changed but I cant see him in the same light ever again since rumours have it that the grandpa will marry his step grandaughter... Sure stranger things have happened with Director and actor Woody Allen marrying his adopted chinesse daughter. What are we supposed to make of that. I mean you raise this child then you marry them? That is just crazily bizzarre... READ: First Rumours said he would marry the grand daughter... The National Enquirer is reporting that Morgan Freeman intends to marry his 27-year-old step-granddaughter! After alleging that the 72 year old actor has been having an affair with step-granddaughter E’Dena Hines , now, reports are stating that the two will wed once Morgan's divorce proceedings are final. And apparently, this is what they both want. Said one family insider: “Becoming Mrs. Morgan Freeman has been