Former Hectic Nine-9 presenter Ayanda Makuzeni has set off a wave of online debate after admitting she’s seriously weighing up an audition for the much-discussed Top Billing Presenter Search. While her openness about the experience has drawn plenty of interest, it has also split viewers between those who applaud her honesty and those who think she’s overthinking what’s required.
In a candid TikTok video shared a few days ago, Makuzeni described the internal tug-of-war she’s been dealing with. She said she feels both excited and anxious, largely because of the way auditioning is structured—contestants are expected to post their audition clips on social platforms using official hashtags.
“I’m actually contemplating auditioning for Top Billing, but my stress, my anxiety, is the fact that you have to post your audition online… on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook with the official hashtag. And now, when I do that, I never do auditions publicly,” Makuzeni said.
She added that the nerves aren’t coming from the audition itself, but from the pressure of putting everything out in the public eye. She also referenced the practical details that would need to fall into place, from getting the right hairstyle and outfit to choosing the right location and sticking to the required dress code.
Makuzeni went on to explain that public auditions can leave contestants feeling exposed, since their content becomes available for scrutiny and potentially brutal commentary. Even with that concern, she insisted she’s trying to keep a positive mindset about the chance rather than letting fear of judgment take over.
Her comments also touched on how the competition may be changing. She suggested the show could already be searching for a different kind of presenter, implying that the expectations might not be the same as what many people assume.
“It’s like they already have new faces and new voices. So I’m thinking, what are they looking for this time? It has to be different to what’s already existing,” she said.
If she does go ahead with auditioning, Makuzeni suggested she would treat it as a deliberate creative project—planning everything from her styling to the setting where she records. She said she would consider a fresh look, possibly switching up her hair, and finding a dress code that feels elevated while still refusing to fit into traditional gender expectations.
“I have to go for a new look, maybe change my hair, find a top-tier dress code… and it shouldn’t be conforming to any gender. It should be androgyny. And I must find a place to record my audition tape, maybe a resort, a villa, or a vineyard in Stellenbosch,” she highlighted.
She wrapped up by openly questioning whether she’s fully ready for the challenge, posing a final thought to viewers: “Are you the perfect fit for Top Billing? That is the big question.”
Once the video went live, it quickly became a talking point in the comments and beyond, with reactions spreading across social media. TV personality Somizi Mhlongo was among the first to respond, urging her not to take the public audition route.
“No, babe, don’t do it. You have earned your stripes. You can let them know you’re interested and take it from there,” he wrote, suggesting she use her already-established career momentum rather than putting herself through a highly visible competition format.
Not everyone agreed with the same approach, though. Content creator Matthew Lani also weighed in with his own perspective in a separate TikTok video, questioning the logic of the audition structure and what it could be designed to achieve.
Lani argued that the public-facing element may be less about discovering talent and more about generating exposure. “Honestly speaking, the people doing these Top Billing auditions, you’re not just wasting your time. Top Billing has already selected its people a long time ago. This is free publicity for them,” he said.
He also raised a bigger casting-process question, asking why the submissions are meant to be posted publicly rather than handled privately in a more traditional manner.
Even with the disagreement, the competition has still drawn significant interest. Hundreds of South Africans have entered, including Lwandle Ndaba, the son of Sophie Ndaba, with entrants showing off their personalities and hoping to secure what they see as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
