Controversial South African performer Zodwa Wabantu has opened up on the criticism she faces on social media and the challenges she’s faced.
Forced out of home at the age of 16 to fend for herself, Zodwa revealed that she started out by giving out tissue paper to ladies in a bar.
“I went out because I needed to support myself because I saw that they are forcing me to support myself at a young age,” she revealed during an interview with South Africa's Channel 24.
“At the age of 16, I worked as a toilet lady, giving out tissues to the ladies in a bar called The Rock,” she said.
With the little money she managed to save, she took herself through school and thereafter became a debt collector.
“Then I ended up being a debt collector and then moving to Durban. And then Zodwa as a whole came.”
Losing her mother at a young age, the mother of one admitted to living by the title many know her for and that she indeed sells 'a**.'
According to Zodwa, should her plans go accordingly, she will soon be keeping her 'a**' to herself as she ventures into acting.
“Soon I'll tell you when I signed. I've signed the dotted line-that paper-as in it is done but we're doing that,” she said of her acting plans.
Admitting to taking alcohol before hitting the stage to 'entertain,' Zodwa admitted to being in a relationship but not ready to settle down.
“I will never get married. I just want to be happy. As you can see I'm glowing. He's someone that I go out with, I sleep with and talk with. Because when you're in this industry you must have someone you trust and who's not after my fame,” she said of her man who works in the banking industry.
As the interview got deeper, an emotional Zodwa broke down narrating what she goes through to make money.
“I'm told that I'm ugly. I'm told that I'm not good enough by my society, not my boss and not the people that I work with. So God is like ‘you are my child I will show them’. And he does. I sleep drunk. I travel the whole night, but in the morning, there is money entering my account from people who want to book me. So, you can imagine, I'm sleeping because He knows who I am,” Zodwa said as she wiped tears.
Mother to a 12 year old son, it is not easy.
“My son's name is Vuyo. He is 12 now. You know I'm a parent and just like any woman that looks after their own you know like a bird, you go and hustle and find a worm and you know where you are going to take it. So I'm me and I'm doing what I'm doing,” she said.
Asked about her son's knowledge of her job, Zodwa admits he knows and asks his mother not to do too much.
“I won't lie to you and I won't lie to the people who follow me, my son knows everything. He has a laptop, he has internet but at least when he comes back to me and says 'Zozo you know you mustn't do too much,' so we laugh,” she said.
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