Some stars of the “Real Housewives of Durban” are in hot water with viewers.
The hit reality series, which streams on Showmax, trends every Friday, however this week it was for all the wrong reasons.
This week a conversation that has been brewing on social media for the past few weeks come to a boiling point.
It all started when cast member Nonkanyiso “Laconco” Chonco invited only Zulu-speaking cast members to an event she hosted.
Those cast members included Ayanda Ncwane and Nonku Williams.
Sorisha Naidoo, Anne-Tonni Lodick-Mthembu and Kgomotso Ndungane were not invited.
When asked why she did not invite the other ladies, Laconco said that she wanted all her guests to be comfortable and anticipated that the language barrier between her guests (many of whom were not cast members of the show) would become a problem.
Although the ladies accepted her reasoning, many of them found it a “weak excuse”, with Kgomotso further challenging Laconco.
“I am Tswana, I am married to a Xhosa man and I live in KZN. So I might not be fluent but if you have a chat with me in Zulu, I’ll be able to understand you. You always preaching women empowerment, you are actually empowering me to learn about your tribe,“ said Kgomotso.
In her confessional, Sorisha called Laconco the “dodgeball queen”.
In the finale, viewers found offence in a conversation between Ayanda and Laconco.
The pair were discussing recent drama with Laconco saying she wanted to ask Kgomotso what language she was fluent in since she spoke “terrible English and Setswana”.
Ayanda then went on to say that Kgomotso was not black. While the subtitles read “She is not black, she’s Tswana”, viewers felt that Ayanda was out of line for making that comment and labelled it tribalist.
#RHODurban this will not be tolerated in the Republic. This is pure blatant tribalism and unacceptable!The fact that Ayanda said Kgomotso is not a person because she's not Zulu is unacceptable and we demand accountability from your show and Ayanda must apologize for thew remarks. pic.twitter.com/tKWQN6M0rd
— Yolanda Nxesi (@Yolanda85463020) April 15, 2021
Person in isiZulu is “umuntu”, the word Ayanda used. A black person in isiZulu is “umuntu omnyama”, which she did not say.
See reactions below:
I've been to rural KZN and I studied with Zulu people back in Uni, I know exactly the terms are used to offend a non-Zulu person and then turn around and spin it on the Zulu language. Ayanda is old enough. She knows very well her choice of words were meant to sting.
— Yolanda Nxesi (@Yolanda85463020) April 16, 2021
This episode of #RHOD is 😳
— Mpho Letsholonyane (@M_Letsholonyane) April 16, 2021
There’s this side of Ayanda and LaConco that is just trash 🚮
Ayanda and Laconco are literally bullying Kgomotso 😔 #RHOD
— Tamara (@Tammzzie) April 16, 2021
So are we going to ignore the comment @Ayanda made that Kgomotso aksiyena umuntu in their gossip session with Phupho and Lanconco? Mhhh She even said as Zulu's.... So because KG is not Zulu she's not a person? I'd like to speak to the producers please. #RHOD
— Yolanda Nxesi (@Yolanda85463020) April 15, 2021
So just because you are not Zulu means that you are not black??? Lmao eh *claps once* #RHODurban #RHOD pic.twitter.com/Kue2KU9Kuf
— Liz* (@Liz_Ledwaba) April 16, 2021
Responding to the backlash, Nomsa Philiso, MultiChoice Channel Director: Local Entertainment said, “As a streaming platform, Showmax does not endorse any actions or comments made on any of the content available, be it reality TV or fictional series and movies or documentaries.
“We believe good content should encourage debate and discussions on key issues in our society. As a company, Showmax believes South Africa belongs to all who live in it. We reject any form of discrimination.”