12 South African Celebrities Who Ruined Their Careers

Let’s face it: nothing lasts forever—fame, money, love, nothing. Some celebrities have lived to tell the tale of a failed career. In this article, we look at 12 South African celebrities who absolutely wrecked and ruined their careers.

12. Vtis

Vtis is a prime example of how speaking the truth can ruin your life. After speaking up against exploitation in the industry, she was blacklisted by one of the biggest film productions in South Africa, the Fergusons.

She never got hired again for any memorable roles and had to find other ways to survive outside mainstream acting.

11. Prince KB

Prince KB was a superstar around 2018 with his outsing guitar melodies. However, when the piano genre took over, he ran out of content and allegedly started leaking his private parts on social media to stay relevant.

Despite attempting to rebuild his career, he became irrelevant in the mainstream media.

10. DJ Mapa

DJ Mapa, arguably South Africa’s biggest producer in 2024, faced serious controversy when he was accused of being a vulture by Something Soto for releasing a song without crediting him.

Mapa’s subsequent live stream, where he complained about ungrateful artists and cried, led to his career going downhill.

9. Julius Malema

Julius Malema had it all—fame, love, and praise. However, his promotion of the open border policy led to his downfall. He lost the presidential elections to the MK party and even lost his deputy president and other party members. His career is essentially over.

8. Carlo Hadebe

Carlo Hadebe, famous for his iconic role in Generations: The Legacy, requested donations from the public after being out of work for almost three years.

He blamed his unemployment on his lack of interest in networking with others in the industry. Despite his fall, he believes he’ll get up again.

7. Musa Kula

Musa Kula was a critic of celebrities, calling them pretentious and fake. However, his own dirty laundry came out when he allegedly murdered his boyfriend. He is currently awaiting trial and sentencing.

6. Chida Adina

Chida Adina, a top 16 contestant in Miss South Africa, faced questions about her origins due to her Nigerian-sounding name.

After an investigation by the Minister of Home Affairs revealed that her mother had stolen someone else’s identity, her South African IDs and passports were confiscated, ruining her career.

5. DJ Sbu

DJ Sbu ruined his career by exploiting artists, including the Zahara saga. No one wanted to work with him anymore, and he ran out of money.

Despite preaching about avoiding corporate slavery and starting businesses, he sold his energy drink brand and is now just a YouTuber and podcaster.

4. Mthokozisi Yende

Mthokozisi Yende, a popular musician, ruined his career by allegedly abusing his spouse and attempting to bankrupt her.

Despite reuniting with his wife, his career never recovered, and he is now an upcoming artist unlikely to release another hit.

3. Shabba

Shabba was an overnight sensation in 2023 but quickly lost momentum after getting into accidents, one of which claimed the life of his daughter.

His recklessness led to a dwindling fan base, and even DJ Mapa couldn’t save him.

2. Siya

Siya, accused of abuse by his partner in 2008, initially seemed innocent until his new partner accused him as well. He was dropped from Idols and lost many gigs, despite being restored to the show later.

1. Lady Zama

Lady Zama, a legend alongside Prince KB, accused Jub Jub of rape. However, it was revealed that she allegedly lied, and she apologized.

This ruined her credibility, and South Africans no longer want to hear her speak about women’s rights.

Conclusion

These 12 South African celebrities serve as cautionary tales of how actions and decisions can ruin careers.

From speaking out against exploitation to personal controversies, their stories highlight the importance of integrity and responsibility in the public eye.

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