Zodwa Wabantu was born Zodwa Rebecca Libram. She rarely uses her surname for official business but includes it in her Instagram profile. The entertainer caused a stir in 2019 when she declared that her future husband will take her surname when she gets married.
Zodwa calls Durban home but she is originally from Soweto. She grew up in a poor household and often speaks about how she had to fight for food to survive. Her mother died when she was just 11 years old, leaving her grandmother to look after her. Zodwa’s father was never in the picture.
She left home at the age of 16 and had to fend for herself with odd jobs, including work as a dancer. Zodwa moved to Durban after getting an offer to work at a debt collection company. She did not give up on the nightlife and continued to dance at shisanyama's in Durban’s townships, where she earned her “Vosho Queen” title.
All it took was a little black dress to set Zodwa Wabantu on the path to stardom. The entertainer, who made a name for herself as a dancer at KwaZulu-Natal’s famous Eyadini Lounge, became the talk of the town in 2017 when she wore a thigh-baring dress to the Durban July. The racy outfit exposed her buttocks and raised more than a few eyebrows.
The jaw-dropping moment helped make her a national celebrity, with club managers falling over themselves to book South Africa’s new dance sensation.
Zodwa Wabantu Son
Zodwa Wabantu gave birth to a son named Vuyo in 2006. She has made it clear that everything she does is to ensure the 13-year-old’s financial security. She sent him to the best schools and proudly revealed he has never failed a grade. “I made sure not to play on his education because I wanted him to have good marks,” she wrote on Instagram. Zodwa failed her matric (Grade 12) and said she doesn’t want her son to do the same.
Zodwa has never been shy to admit that she prefers younger men. In 2019, she proposed to her then "Ben 10" boyfriend, 24-year-old Ntobeko Linda, after they had been together for six years.
She presented her “Ben 10” with a rose gold ring worth R5 217. She also bought her own engagement ring – a custom made rose gold morganite and diamond ring that cost R47 826. Sadly, the couple did not make it to the altar.
Zodwa called off their engagement for a second time in June – this time for good! “I’m losing myself. I need my spark back. I’m not happy anymore. Free Ntobeko, he’s still growing. No wedding,” she wrote on Instagram.
Three months after calling off her wedding, Zodwa found love again, with a younger man called Vusi. He seemed very happy in the relationship, revealing that Zodwa "gets" him.
"What attracted me to her is her honesty, she's pure. I love being happy and she loves being happy. I'm an entrepreneur and also furthering my studies,"
The relationship did not last long either, and the two broke up in May 2020. It would seem that Vusi simply ghosted the dancer, as she said in an interview that he had stopped responding to her calls and messages, and she wanted him back. Vusi came out shortly after to clarify that he had dumped Zodwa.
Zodwa heals fast, as shortly after the Vusi saga, she unveiled a new boyfriend. She kept her new man anonymous for a while, finally revealing him on her social media. The announcement surprised fans, as Zodwa seemed to have finally bagged an age-appropriate bae for the first time.
The relationship did not last long either.
Zodwa Wabantu Boyfriend
Currently, Zodwa has found herself another Ben 10, Olefile Mpudi AKA Ricardo She constantly shares photos and videos of her new man on Instagram, with some being rather... ummh... Zodwa-like.
There has also been speculation over the sexuality of Zodwa's current bae. One social media user suggested that Ricardo was gay, and Zodwa was not here for it. She immediately shut him down, leaving him embarassed and apologizing profusely. I guess that answers the question of his sexuality, then.
There is also an undisclosed item she alleged he stole from her and she is apparently using it against him. Adamant to get back what's hers topped with an apology, Zodwa had allegedly opened a case of fraud at the Empangeni Police station.
Zodwa said she was not scared of Vusi and he should return everything he took from her.
#Kutense!
Zodwa also split with DJ Tira, whose company Afrotainment had signed her for a long time. While fans speculated bad blood between them, both parties came out to clarify that there was no beef, and Zodwa simply wanted to do her own thing.
It is no secret that Zodwa parties a lot - you can tell just from her Instagram page. In July 2021, she announced that she was checking herself into the Africa Rehabilitation Centre for drugs and alcohol rehabilitation. She was applauded as brave by her fans for the move.
However, she has since continued to post party content, and it is unclear whether she actually did go to rehab, or whether it was yet another brand advertisement for her.
Her reality show Zodwa Wabantu: Uncensored, has also been a source of unending drama. Most recently, she rehashed her beef with Khanyi Mbau, who she had mocked and humiliated on the show. She alluded to taking ARVs and that she had slept with Khanyi's ex-husband while they were still together. It is no secret that these two are not each other's favourites, as Zodwa went on to drag Khanyi, calling her stuck up and "too full of herself".
Zodwa Wabantu #StayAtHomeChallenge
Whilst many were thinking of what to do at home during the lockdown period because of the Coronavirus, Zodwa came up with a challenge.
The #StayAtHomeChallenge was created for such reason, and interestingly enough by soccer stars who've felt the brunt of the coronavirus after all leagues around the world cancelled their season and upcoming matches.
The viral challenge involved a toilet paper roll and some impressive foot skills and we've even seen stars like Messi, Pogba, Thierry and locally Khune take on the entertaining social media trend.
What's interesting enough though was to watch Zodwa attempting to do it in her bra and thong! Yep, that's Zodwa for you.
Zodwa Wabantu Net Worth
Zodwa Wabantu’s net worth is at least R1 million. She reportedly made her first million in 2018 after signing a contract with MojaLove to star in her own reality show, Zodwa Wabantu Uncensored. The entertainer also earns R35 000 plus per appearance and has an endorsement deal with a Durban medical centre that specialises in dermatology and cosmetic surgery.
Zodwa Wabantu Business
She has recently announced that she will be opening the Zodwa Wabantu Hair Salon soon. She also sells eggs, a booming business that she started last year during lockdown. In addition, Zodwa has a mortuary she opened in June 2020. It's clear that she is deep in her bag.
In addition to business, Zodwa also scores brand deals. She is newly the brand ambassador for Mazda, as she announced on Instagram. She is also brand ambassador for Go&Fun, a green energy drink.
Zodwa Wabantu is a self-proclaimed “pantyless dancer”. This, coupled with her vosho moves, helped make her a star attraction at some of SA’s top clubs. Her controversial dance moves have also earned her some bad publicity.
She was banned from a Zimbabwean carnival in 2017 after officials received complaints that she would “tarnish” the country’s image. Zimbabwe’s then-president, Robert Mugabe, also lashed out at the dancer.
“You just come without covering your decency. What do you want? Men to see you? We don't want such," he said at a rally.
She might have been banned in Zimbabwe, but Zodwa’s dance moves have taken her to other countries including England and America.
Zodwa Wabantu House
Zodwa Wabantu went from being a poor teen to building her own house in her 30s. She took to Instagram in August to share a picture of the home she built from scratch.
Zodwa didn’t need to take a loan from the bank to build the three-bedroom Nelspruit home - she used her own money!
Zodwa Wabantu Surgery
Zodwa Wabantu recently underwent several body transformation procedures. She had Lipodissolve injections in August 2019 to help burn her fat in order to stay “young and fresh”.
Zodwa also had a non-surgical breast lift and underwent a vaginal-tightening procedure in 2019. The procedures, which she often shares on Instagram, were met with shock from her fans.
But Zodwa has assured her followers that she won’t go “too far” with the procedures. She said her main goal is to “firm up” her body so she can look good on stage.
