Zakes Bantwini’s Comments on SAMAs Tribute Spark Social Media Drama with DJ Cleo

South African musician Zakes Bantwini recently found himself at the heart of a social media storm after sharing his thoughts on DJ Cleo’s performance during the 30-year tribute at the South African Music Awards (SAMAs). While Zakes commended the tribute as a whole, he felt it missed an essential piece of South Africa’s musical heritage—Durban kwaito.

Expressing his disappointment on X (formerly Twitter), Zakes voiced his concerns about the lack of Durban kwaito representation in the performance mix. His post quickly caught public attention, sparking mixed reactions from fans and the industry alike.

Among those who responded was DJ Cleo himself, who directly addressed Zakes with a heartfelt message. “My brother, I love you and your moves and have always rooted for you,” DJ Cleo wrote. “I’ve never tweeted or said anything negative about you. You have my number and you know SAMAs are very political and are not my show or platform. Let’s lead the youngins by example and not do social media rants like them I beg.”

Recognising the weight of his words, Zakes was quick to issue a public apology. He acknowledged that his post may have come off too strong and clarified that his comment was driven purely by his passion for music. “I apologise if my previous tweet offended you,” Zakes wrote. “My comment was driven by my passion for music. You are right; I should have reached out directly. Please accept my sincere apology.”

I apologize if my previous tweet offended you. My comment was driven by my passion for music. You are right; I should have reached out directly. Please accept my sincere apology. 🙏🏿 https://t.co/2lM6O420l1

— Zakes Bantwini (@ZakesBantwiniSA) November 4, 2024