Sithelo Shozi excited & grateful for first TV gig on 'The Masked Singer SA'

After months of hinting at making her TV debut, Sithelo Shozi has been unveiled as a panellist on The Masked Singer South Africa. 

The socialite and DJ, who frequently shoots up the trends list, is a mother of three children — her firstborn son from her previous relationship with Makhosini Maseko, aka Lord Phil, and her two daughters with Royal AM chairperson Andile Mpisane, who is now married to Tamia.

“Other than my three pregnancies, this has been the hardest secret to keep,” she jokingly said at the press conference of The Masked Singer South Africa on Tuesday.

“It's been so hard to keep the secret, but it's all been worth it. The experience has been surreal, I still get chills when we go on stage. Someone who is sitting at home can expect something out of this world ... I love that I am going to enjoy it with my family, I love that I am going to enjoy it with my children.” 

Sithelo joins the international franchise alongside industry heavyweights including J'Something, Somizi Mhlongo and Skhumba on the singing competition, set to launch in the second quarter of 2023 as a weekly show on SABC3, with repeat on SABC1.

“Everybody made me feel so comfortable, it felt like family. It's been so incredible to learn each and every day, I'm even learning so much about myself. I'm growing each and every day, which I am so grateful for.”

Sithelo said the show will give views and her fan base a chance to get to know her better beyond her social media persona. 

“People have seen me on social media but a lot of people don't actually know me. They know my pictures and that's just about it, and what I've loved about this show is that it's also given me a platform to share who I really am. I actually do have something between these two ears — I don't just take pictures every day, I actually do speak.

“This is a really great way for people to actually learn more about me and see who I really am and I'm so grateful for the opportunity. This has been a great way for me to start. This is my first big gig and it's huge — and I started with the most amazing people.”

Anele Mdoda, who produces the show under her production company Rose & Oaks Media, said she took Sithelo for brunch at Westcliff before they started filming to prepare her and assure her she was perfect for the job.

“It was so important for me to tell her what she was doing right and to highlight things that were creeping up and tell her: 'Lean away from that, don't get branded as that.'

“Ultimately, I don't think there's anything Sithelo needs to fix about herself, Sithelo is perfect,” Anele told TshisaLIVE.

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