From politico wives to TV stars, these are the names to watch, like it or not

Take a funny lass about to turn the big four-oh, a hunky new star on the cusp of his biggest role and a lithe former dancer who is a fixture on our TV screens.

Add an actor slash musician who once juggled appearances on three shows, a TV and radio presenter with a burgeoning beauty empire and the poster gal for Black Girl Magic who has appeared on more Netflix shows than any other local thespian.  

And to spice things up?

How about a controversial former politico wife with a penchant for suits.

These are the seven intriguing A-listers you need to know, watch, follow -- and take more than an armchair interest in -- in 2023.

While lists of this sort often fixate on hot new things who burn brightly, grabbing the zeitgeist at a particular moment, for this year’s list I chose to dig deeper to toast those rare creatures with proven staying power in a goldfish-attention-span world.

Folk who have earned respect in their careers (often via the school of hard knocks), who embrace fearlessness and their flaws, breathe resilience and effortlessly stand out from the crowd.

To mark the occasion calls for a special location, and while in the past A-lister announcements have taken the form of luncheons at places like rooftop gardens or penthouses, having not had the chance to celebrate physically for the past couple of years, I thought a chic yet intimate dinner at a top restaurant would fit the bill.

So PR queen Jill Grogor and her team at Zebra Square and chef du jour Luke Dale Roberts’s newish Joburg outpost Test Kitchen Carbon in Johannesburg’s oh-so-trendy Oxford Parks precinct came on board to tantalise our tastebuds with a gastronomic feast.

But you’ll want to know who made the cut.

The first to arrive drew the ire of some readers when I put her on this list in 2019.

That’s Norma Mngoma, who at the time was still married to disgraced former home affairs minister Malusi Gigaba. In the ensuing years we have watched as the woman known as Mrs Gigabyte went from allegedly keying a G Wagon to lifting the lid on the goings-on at the Gupta mansion in Johannesburg during the state capture inquiry and rolling out a line of sartorial wear under the Suitably Norma moniker.

All the while Norma, who these days juggles business interests with chairing a foundation bearing her name, has proven herself to be a woman scorned, with no plan to slip out of the limelight.

And with her clothing biz now expanding into men’s wear, it will be interesting to see which guys will be brave enough to go near Norma’s tailoring scissors.

Next, I meet Senzo Radebe, the only one on the list I hadn’t met in the flesh.

Senzo earns his inclusion not only because the hunky actor isn’t shy to show off his physique on social media or in front of the camera in a host of racy roles.

Outside the eye-candy factor, he is set to become a household name for his role as Senzangakhona, Shaka’s father, in arguably the year’s most eagerly anticipated series, Shaka iLembe. It debuts on Mzansi Magic later this year.

The other bloke on this year’s list is actor, singer and entrepreneur Nkosinathi “Nap Maps” Maphalala, who rose to fame on hugely popular SABC1 drama Uzalo and has gone on to become one of the hardest-working actors around.

And when it comes to an impressive work ethic, Nambitha Ben-Mazwi should take a bow.

In a few short years this Gqeberha-raised personality has gone from digital marketing for a Cape Town radio station to seeing her name in lights for roles on Netflix shows and movies such as Savage Beauty, Happiness Ever After and How To Ruin Christmas.

On to one of the most photogenic women in the land, Lalla Hirayama, the Japanese-South African TV personality who first appeared on our screens at the age of 15, on e.tv kiddies programme Craz-e.

She has been voted one of the sexiest women in the world and these days raises awareness about PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), in between DJ and TV gigs.

Lerato Kganyago, the TV and radio personality, makes the list for the third time, off the back of her recent success as host of Good Morning Qatar, the SABC Sport Fifa World Cup show, and the growing success of her Flutter brand, whose sanitary pads are available countrywide at Clicks.

Closing the list is Safta-award-nominated writer and comedian Nina Hastie who, apart from appearing in an upcoming SABC3 doccie and with a series titled Otherwise You Well? in the offing, turns 40 in May.

Asked about the milestone, the seasoned stand-up who co-hosted popular late-night talk show Trending SA for four years (and whose comedic pen we can thank for the funny lines on NBC Universal’s local version of Celebrity Game Night) is matter-of-fact.

“It’s like being 25 but with money. As long as you take care of your health. And without the weight of self-consciousness,” she says.

All guests were gifted luxurious goodie bags thanks to French eco brand Panier des Sens and we were in for a gastronomic feast thanks to Test Kitchen Carbon’s head chef Tyrone Gentry, with Grey Goose cocktails the domain of sommelier Tinashe Nyamudoka.

The eight-course tasting menu included smoked trout with mustard and grapefruit; Penang-inspired pork belly in a coconut and peanut broth; springbok fillet with a delicious peach dauphinoise and cherry, vanilla and bourbon jus; and a vanilla panna cotta with strawberry jellies, purée and ice cream.

THE 2023 A-LISTERS TO WATCH

NORMA MNGOMA

From being known as IT guru Mrs Gigabyte when she was married to former home affairs minister Malusi Gigaba to lifting the lid on the Guptas’ money-counting machine in their Saxonwold, Johannesburg, compound, Norma keeps making headlines.

However, the former politico wife has taken it all on her chin and, after a short stint studying fashion design, is now focusing her energy on cutting cloth as the owner of the Suitably Norma bespoke suit line.

SENZO RADEBE

With his gym-honed physique, this actor has embraced roles which have allowed him to show his sexy side -- no doubt why he scooped the Hunk of the Year award at the Feather Awards in November.

And judging by the hype surrounding Mzansi Magic’s upcoming epic Shaka iLembe, a series which “tells the story of the making of an iconic African king”, this year we will be hearing a lot more about this 29-year-old who honed his acting skills at the Duma Ndlovu Academy at the Joburg Theatre.

After all, he plays the pivotal role of Shaka’s father, Senzangakhona.

NAY MAPS

When you find work appearing on three different shows on different channels at the same time, you know you’re on a roll. But what has distinguished Nkosinathi “Nap Maps” Maphalala throughout his career has been his hard work, undeniable talent and that he happens to be one of the nicest guys around.

He first appeared on screen as Mxolisi Xulu on Uzalo, while his most recent appearance was as a celebrity contestant on Tropika Island of Treasure.

Not content with a prolific acting career, Nay is drawing attention to his musical skills, having recently released his first single, I’ll Be There.

NAMBITHA BEN-MAZWI

Appearing on a whopping six Netflix shows is no small feat. But when you’re as driven as this University of Cape Town business science (honours) graduate, it’s a piece of cake.

Better known to her legion of fans as Lady Nam, Nambitha capped off the year with an Actress of the Year win at the VN Global Media and Entertainment Awards, a new entity.

The 34-year-old has also been named Most Stylish Artist at February’s SA Style Awards.

LALLA HIRAYAMA

Japanese-born South African TV host, DJ, actress and dancer Lalla is on the cusp of celebrating two decades on our screens.

First drawing attention as a teen presenter on e.tv’s long-running kiddies’ programme Craz-e, she dabbled in acting on dramas ranging from Rhythm City to Isono, hosted countless TV shows and wowed ballroom dancing aficionados with her prowess, becoming runner-up on season six of Strictly Come Dancing.

Lalla’s passion for building bridges between her two loves, South Africa and Japan, also saw her host a YouTube series, Sharing the Sun, with the Japanese embassy last year.

LERATO KGANYAGO

Last year saw Lerato Kganyago return to TV screens in two shows.

This outside an exhaustive schedule which includes gigs as one of the country’s most in-demand club DJs, her daily Metro FM lunchtime show and business interests.

The former Miss Soweto was also announced as the recipient of the Achievement in Business category at the SA Style Awards.

NINA HASTIE

Fans will be thrilled there’ll be a lot more ways to catch up with Nina Hastie this year.

Fresh from ticking off her bucket list a holiday in South Korea, the diminutive comedian is set to make a cameo on upcoming chick-flick comedy The Honeymoon, star in an SABC3 doccie-style show on the comedy industry and launch a series, Otherwise You Well?, which takes a comic’s eye to wellness.

It is earmarked for an autumn debut. All this in between blowing out the candles on her 40th-birthday cake.