Celeb roundup: Tupac’s murder case, Rihanna’s full-circle moment and Nota’s Black Coffee apology

Nomathamsanqa Sithathu

14 AUG 2026, 06:00

6 min read

Some weeks are about red carpets and big announcements. This one has been a little heavier, with old mysteries resurfacing, public fallouts reaching the courtroom and celebrities opening up about deeply personal moments.

There were also a few reminders of how quickly the internet can turn a simple moment into a much bigger conversation, from Lasizwe’s date with Vuyo Biyela to Rihanna taking her children back to the street that shaped her childhood.

Here are some of the stories that had Mzansi and the rest of the world talking.

1. Rihanna takes her children back to the street where she grew up

The businesswoman and singer gave her three children a glimpse into her childhood when she took them to the Barbados street where she grew up, now officially named Rihanna Drive in her honour.

She shared photos of RZA, Riot and baby Rocki Irish at the landmark, reflecting on the full-circle moment of returning to her old neighbourhood with her own children. Rihanna Drive was renamed in 2017 to honour the global star, who was born Robyn Rihanna Fenty and grew up in Westbury.

Calling the moment “trippy”, Rihanna said it was surreal to go from being the child who grew up there to bringing her own children back to the same place.

2. Tupac’s alleged killer heads to trial nearly 30 years after rapper’s death

Nearly three decades after Tupac Shakur was killed in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, the man accused of his murder is finally heading to trial.

Duane “Keffe D” Davis, a former gang leader, was arrested and charged in 2023 and has pleaded not guilty. Jury selection began this week, with opening arguments expected on August 17.

The case is expected to revisit the gang rivalries and East Coast-West Coast tensions that surrounded Tupac’s career and death. Prosecutors’ case is also expected to centre heavily on a book co-authored by Davis, which he has previously described as partly fictional.

3. Lasizwe thanks Vuyo Biyela after their ‘Awkward Dates’ episode goes viral

The media personality has thanked actor Vuyo Biyela after their Awkward Dates episode sparked a much bigger conversation than either of them may have expected.

The episode, which saw the pair navigate an entertaining but awkward date, gained traction online, reaching 130,000 views in its first 24 hours and continuing to pull in viewers days later.

For many viewers, seeing two men, one of them openly queer and the other heterosexual, share that kind of relaxed interaction was refreshing in a culture where such moments can still be treated with unnecessary tension.

Reflecting on the response, Lasizwe said the show was created to entertain while also creating moments that challenge how people see one another and encourage conversations around simply coexisting.

4. Nota Baloyi apologises to Black Coffee after lengthy legal battle

Baloyi has publicly apologised to Black Coffee and withdrawn defamatory claims he previously made about the Grammy-winning DJ.

The apology follows a lengthy legal dispute that began after comments Nota made on a podcast and social media in 2025. Black Coffee took the matter to the Johannesburg High Court, which ordered Baloyi to remove the statements and issue an apology.

He initially resisted complying with the order, but has now issued an “unreserved” apology and acknowledged that the allegations were false and defamatory.

5. Danny K pays tribute to wife Lisa after private cancer battle

The musician broke his silence following the death of his wife, Lisa Koppel, who died at 41 on Sunday, August 9 after a three-year battle with colorectal cancer.

He revealed that Lisa was diagnosed in November 2023, but the family chose to keep her illness private as she underwent treatment. He said she never wanted pity or attention and remained focused on protecting their children and preserving their happiness.

He added that the family pursued treatment in South Africa and abroad but ultimately could not save her. Danny K has now chosen to speak publicly about her diagnosis in the hope of raising awareness about colorectal cancer, while paying tribute to the woman he described as brave, gentle and deeply devoted to her family.

6. Sithelo Shozi celebrated her lobola

Durban-born media personality Sithelo Shozi is officially off the market after celebrating her lobola in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal. She marked the traditional ceremony with her fiancé, Zimbabwean businessman Kudzaishe James Magura, as she formally stepped into her new chapter as a makoti.

The celebration follows Magura’s proposal in April during Shozi’s birthday trip to Italy. He proposed on a boat on Lake Como with a Tiffany & Co. oval-cut solitaire diamond ring, with Shozi later confirming the engagement on Instagram. The couple reportedly dated briefly in 2018 before reconnecting privately.

7. Lamiez Holworthy hospitalised

International dancer and choreographer Limpopo Boy was removed from the line-up for the inaugural Creators Assembly 2026 in Botswana. The announcement came after a private intimate video involving the entertainer circulated online, although organisers did not directly say the video was the reason for the programme change.

The Creators Assembly said a replacement was being considered for the event, which is scheduled for 19 to 21 August at the Grand Aria Hotel and Conference Centre in Gaborone.

Meanwhile, Limpopo Boy’s management condemned the unauthorised circulation of the video, saying it was obtained and shared without consent. His team said it was investigating the matter with cybersecurity experts and legal representatives and urged the public not to share the video.

9. Inkosi YamaGcokama dies in crash

Global superstar Tyla is bringing her A*POP era to Johannesburg with a special fan appreciation event at Gold Reef City on Sunday, August 16. The Grammy Award-winning singer announced the A*POP Official Takeover on various media platforms, inviting her fans, known as the Tygers, to join her for a day of music, entertainment and celebration.

The event will run from 9am to 5pm and comes as Tyla prepares for her South African homecoming shows in Cape Town and Johannesburg in the coming months.

nomathamsanqa.sithathu@nationalmg.co.za

THE NATIONAL