The rivalry between rappers AKA and Cassper Nyovest has to be the most famous in Mzansi history. The platinum-selling singers began as pals, but tensions between them arose soon after Cassper released Gusheshe, his blockbuster tune with Okmalumkoolkat.
Cassper's complaining on social media, according to AKA, irritated him.
âHe was coming up, I think it was around the Gusheshe time, and I've always looked out for new artists. We had even started to work on music together. One day I think he had put his video out or something, and the next day he went off about 'I don't have the support, no one is really holding me down, and I'm going to put this song out and show everybody.' I think we kind of fell out, maybe because of things he said on Twitter as people do," he told MTV Base in a 2015 interview.
The situation deteriorated from there. AKA and Cassper have each made "diss" tracks about each other. In his 2015 big song, Composure, AKA took a shot at his opponent.
âHeard you moving up now in the city of gold. When I go to Maftown, I'mma sit on the throne. Tryna fill up the dome, 'bout to fill up your home,â AKA raps in the song.
Cassper, who not only grew up in Maftown (or Mafikeng), but is also known for his popular 'Fill Up' concerns, was clearly the subject of the lyrics.
Dust to Dust, Cassper's diss song, was as fiery. He rapped about AKA's failing romance with DJ Zinhle and more than hinted at his alleged drug use.
For a while, things were quiet, and in 2016, the rappers even seemed to kiss and make-up. At Cassper's 'Fill Up Orlando Stadium' concert, they were seen hugging.
But it was only a brief reunion. In 2018, Cassper stated that he will never reconcile with AKA as long as he lives.
âThat one will never happen. I mean it from the bottom of my heart. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN!!! Itâs gone too far... Ainât nobody I donât mind reconciling with and building with except the broer. LETS BUILD!!!â Cassper tweeted.
Bonang Matheba and Lerato Kganyago
Despite both women denying there is any bad blood between them, rumors regarding a supposed rivalry between Lerato Kganyago and Bonang Matheba persist. The saga supposedly began when Lerato was offered a TV part that Bonang was interested in.
By posing for photos together, Queen B and LKG attempted to put the rumors to rest. After True Love was accused of body shaming Lerato, Bonang went so far as to defend her. The magazine published unedited photos of Lerato's cellulite from her June 2016 cover. After being accused of airbrushing Lerato's cover to the point that she was barely identifiable, it released the photos. It appears that the editing was required.
âIâm so livid! @leratokganyago poured her heart about the most delicate part of her livid. She dared to express her displeasure of how she was âalteredâ and the response from one of the most iconic publications in this country was to body shame shame her,â Bonang wrote on social media.
Their admirers were relieved to learn that any talk of a feud was "false news." That was until April 2017, when Bonang resigned from Metro FM just hours after co-hosting her popular show, The Front Row, with Lerato due to a station reorganization. While Bonang said she departed because she was furious because radio executives informed her of the modifications just before she was scheduled to go on the air, social media users sneered at her.
Bonang's departure was widely assumed to be motivated by her desire to be the show's sole star. The charges were refuted by Queen B, who stated that her theatrical existence had nothing to do with Lerato.
Lerato went on to call the day she and Bonang co-hosted The Front Row her "darkest moment" on the radio. Despite the revelation, LKG attempted to downplay it by stating that she admired Queen B.
âIn the beginning it was great, but it was very tense, and I thought it was a teething phase, we will get over it. But it was just awkward⊠I have so much respect for her. She has her own reasons why she leftâ she said on Metro FM in January 2019.
It's safe to say they'll never be friends.
DJ Cleo and DJ Maphorisa
DJ Cleo and DJ Maphorisa are two of South Africa's most popular DJs. We thought things were looking up between the two until DJ Maphorisa was asked a simple question on Twitter: "Will you ever collaborate with DJ Cleo?" DJ Maphorisa did not mince words in his response, spilling the beans on their feud.
âI don't think so I gave him my demo in Sunnyside PTA at a YFm show with DJ Fresh n Thato I wonât forget dat day. When he was pushing Brickz he gave me n attitude I told my self I will never be like dat guy coz I was a fuckin kid n I know how it feels to be treated like s**t (sic),â DJ Maphoria wrote.
Pearl Thusi has had feuds with celebrities like AKA (they're now friends) and Ntsiki Mazwai, but one of her most famous twars involves another famous actress. On Twitter, Bonnie Mbuli and Pearl Thusi engaged into a heated debate on colorism.
In June 2019, Pearl defended her career after Twitter users suggested she was popular solely because she was a light-skinned black lady with no skill. The Quantico actress defended herself, claiming that she had worked hard to get to where she is now and that she had also been passed up for roles because of her skin color.
âIâve lost many jobs to dark skinned women. Because I didnât fit the mould of a real black woman for people. And other times because that woman was more beautiful or talented. Being light wonât get you there and keep you there, you need to work. And work harder to prove that point,â Pearl tweeted.
Bonnie Mbuli weighed in on the matter
âSo when a light skinned actress complains abt the one or two roles they didnât get coz they werenât dark enuf; Iâm like but the part ur crying abt was being the slave who gets raped and beat up in the thing, ppl who look like u have never had to be in that position to begin with (sic),â Bonnie wrote.
Bonnie wasn't the first person to publicly criticize Pearl on Twitter. Bonnie slammed Pearl in March 2018 after she featured in a photo shoot where her skin was intentionally darkened. Pearl's appearance reminded Bonnie of "blackface."
But one of Ntsiki's more odd disputes involves Fikile Mbalula, a well-known South African politician. Their quarrel dates back to 2014. In 2014, Ntiski penned an open letter to the politician, accusing him of being unfit for office because of his claimed "obsession" with Beyonce.
âThis so called open letter is not about my duties as minister of sports (sic) am doing my job or not it's a personal attackâŠ. Ntsiki mazwai is not fit to question my bonafides ngubani yena?... Questioning my dress sense when you go around naked nobody ever said your dress sense is an invitation for prostitution.
âShe's fond of disrespecting ministers on Twitter, thinking we aren't able to respond to her insanity. This isn't the first time she does this. She can't blame me for her inability to pay rent. She invests her energy in attacks rather than self development,â he wrote in several tweets.
