DJ Shimza – real name Ashley Raphala – has been criticised as an “ANC beneficiary” after he pledged his loyalty once again to the ruling party.
The muso faced backlash from the public, including Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader Mmusi Maimane.
Shimza has long been accused of benefitting from his political connections through tenders awarded to his multiple businesses, which include a chain of restaurants, a trucking and logistics company, and the Kunye record label.
The DJ is also a longtime boyfriend of Athi Geleba, the head of communication for President Cyril Ramaphosa.
SHIMZA GIVES MIDDLE FINGER TO ‘ANC BENEFICIARY’ LABEL
On the eve of voting day—29 May—DJ Shimza tweeted an image of the ANC logo. He added heart emojis in the party’s colours —black, green, and yellow.
The tweet quickly gained traction, and the 36-year-old hitmaker was slapped with the label of “ANC beneficiary” by his followers.
Many tweeps dug up pictures of Shimza at various ANC-affiliated events alongside ministers and even President Cyril Ramaphosa.
BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane joined in and tweeted: “You are the biggest beneficiary. DJ Tintswalo wama tender. You have more tenders than hits”.
However, Shimza remained unfazed.
“The way I’m not even bothered,” he reacted to the criticism.
He later tweeted a clip of him DJing in Ibiza with the caption: “An ANC beneficiary at work.”
It’s not the first time Mmusi has come for Shimza.
In 2021, the former DA politician hinted at Shima’s political links when the latter justified a the government’s launch of a R15 million sports field in Eastern Cape.
Shimza tweeted: “I’m seeing a lot of engineers and people who work in construction saying it’s actually possible.”
Mmusi clapped back, accusing the government of a gross misuse of funds. To the DJ, he responded: “You aspire to tenders. Send your bae flowers.”
A full blown twar ensued between the duo with both the politician and the hitmaker taking low blow shots at each other.
POLITICAL LINKS?
In 2021, the Public Service Commission (PSC) investigated Shimza after his Tembisa restaurant HangAwt scored a R150,000 government gig.
This, after neither applying for the tender nor being in the department of tourism’s database.
According to the Sowetan, the commission had received a complaint about Shimza’s allegedly unethical involvement through the national anti-corruption hotline.
The DJ, however, claimed in several tweets that he had done nothing wrong
When Mmusi Maimane accused Shimza of benefiting from an illegal tender, the latter clapped back: “This was not a tender! The department [of tourism] asked for a venue, and the venue took the booking the way they do with everyone. If u have additional questions, ask the department”.
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