City of Durban to spend R300 000 on virtual influencer campaign
Famous songstress, Kelly Khumalo, was the subject for debate during an executive council meeting after it was revealed her sister, Zandile would be running the city’s R300 000 influencer campaign.
Famous songstress, Kelly Khumalo, was the subject for debate during an executive council meeting after it was revealed her sister, Zandile, would be running the city’s R300 000 influencer campaign.
A report tabled before exco on Tuesday sought the council’s approval for the city to enter into a partnership with Zandile Khumalo as part of the city’s Virtual Destination programme taking place in September.
“Zandile Khumalo and Friends live from the City of Durban will be a live show on DSTV Mzansi Magic Channel 161,” read the report.
“The artists that will be participating in the live show will also stream the event on their respective social media platforms.”
The programme aims to advertise Durban to the rest of South Africa as a way to reinvigorate the city’s tourism and hospitality sector.
Mduduzi Nkosi, Inkatha Freedom Party councillor, said he was on board with the idea but warned that using Kelly Khumalo’s sister might invite backlash from the public.
“We are sending a certain image to the people of Umlazi, ” said Nkosi without going into specific details.
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Kelly Khumalo was the girlfriend of the late Senzo Meyiwa, former Orlando Pirates captain. Meyiwa was from the south-west township of Umlazi.
According to police reports, Kelly Khumalo and Zandile were both present when Meyiwa was gunned by unknown assailants down at the singer’s mother’s home in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, on October 26, 2014.
The killers of Meyiwa still have not been found but Kelly Khumalo has been the subject of vicious conspiracy theories on social media.
Last year, Kelly Khumalo abruptly walked off the stage during a live performance in Durban after the crowd started chanting Meyiwa’s name and another fan unfurled a huge ‘Justice For Senzo’ banner.
Mxolisi Kaunda, eThekwini Mayor, who serves on exco with his brother, councillor Peter Kaunda, said it would be unfair to judge Zandile based on her sister.
“Before the councillor (Nkosi) brought it up, I didn’t even know that she was Kelly Khumalo’s sister. She will be performing on her own, independent of her sister,” he said. “We started this initiative in July and it will bear some fruits.” In July, the city reportedly spent R8 million on a series of virtual concerts.
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Nicole Graham, Democratic Alliance eThekwini Caucus leader, thought the programme was a waste of the city’s money before pointing out that she has more Twitter followers (8861) than Zandile (4385). Zandile also has 217 000 followers on Instagram.
The resolution was carried with DA councillors voting against the campaign.
Kaunda suggested that the organisers look at possibly changing the heading of the show.
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