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Johannesburg - DJ Zinhle is working closely with her former flame AKA and told her best friend, Pearl Thusi, that she is “attracted” to her because she reminds her of her ex.
DJ Zinhle, or Zinhle Jiyane to family and friends, dropped a few hints about their relationship in an interview with City Press after she and AKA were recently spotted getting cosy and hugging at the Taboo nightclub in Sandton.
Jiyane has a daughter, Kairo, with AKA (whose real name is Kiernan Forbes), but the two broke up after he left her for TV personality Bonang Matheba. Now that that relationship is no more, the two appear to be getting closer.
“It has been two years since I released my single, Colours,” she says. “It’s time to release an album. I am excited about this new project because I will be working with a lot of talented artists.”
She has not yet decided on a release date.
“I also want to grow as a deejay and start a band. I have asked Kiernan to help me as a music director.”
Jiyane dismisses rumours that she and AKA are back together, however.
“There is really nothing there,” she smiles.
She describes Forbes as a caring and loving father.
“I see more of Kairo in him. They are more or less the same,” she says.
Her face lights up when she talks about her 3-year-old daughter.
“I am really enjoying motherhood and I am learning a lot from her. She is strong-minded and very compassionate.”
Of late Jiyane has been posting pictures and videos of Kairo on her Instagram profile.
“I just felt like you can’t live your life always in fear. It took me some time to put her on my social media platforms. But I am very protective of her and I thought it was time to put her out there. She is liked by many people and she always wants to give other people hugs. People are happy to see her; their positive energies are protecting her,” she says.
To cope with her busy schedule, Jiyane has a “great” support system, which includes her and Forbes’ family, both of whom play a huge role in raising Kairo.
“The support system has been great. My nanny, Zama, is everything and Kiernan’s mother, Lynn, is also supportive. It is great to have people who support you in everything and to know that you can leave your child in safe hands.”
Even her best friend, Thusi, is always a call away when she needs help with Kairo.
There has been speculation that Jiyane and Thusi were working on a reality show, but she dismisses the rumours. However, she tells City Press that she wouldn’t mind doing a show with the actress.
“If I get to be in a reality show, it will definitely be with Pearl. She has been part of my life for a long time. She is like a sister to me,” she says.
This is evident in a recent promo for the series Behind The Story, which is hosted by Thusi and airs on MTV Base. In the promo, Jiyane is featured as a guest. She tells her friend: “I am attracted to you because you’re so much like Kiernan.”
Jiyane once moved in to stay with Thusi when she was busy building her dream home.
“I have built my dream house and I can drive any car I want to drive. It’s a pity that I am not a car fan. Material things don’t matter to me. I am at peace and content, and that’s what matters,” she says.
Asked how she deals with criticism, she says she is just human, like anyone else.
“Sometimes I don’t wear makeup when I feel like not doing so, because social media does not define me. I am very comfortable with my life and critics on social media are just a waste of time. People can’t dictate to me what to do with my life.”
Jiyane is one of the few very successful deejays in the country right now with a huge following on social media. On Twitter, she currently has 2.3 million followers. “Someone recently told me I am the most followed female deejay in South Africa. I was very humbled,” she says.
She is inspired by the likes of businessman Oskido and businesswoman Basetsana Kumalo, who, she says, have done a lot and still “remain humble”.
Her past 14 years in the showbiz industry have been spent establishing the successful deejay school Fuse Academy, being the founder of jewellery and watch store Era, co-writing a book called Meeting Your Power, and changing young girls’ lives through her SABC1 reality show, It Takes a Village.
So, how does she define success?
“The real success is defined by how you feel. My success is loving myself and being a mother, and being a deejay is what I love.”
