To Her Own Beat

Not only has DJ Zinhle Jiyane, 32, found love, but she’s also a doting mom and an ambitious business woman with nothing to prove to anyone.

- Dudu Mvimbi Leshabane

The ever ambitious DJ, Zinhle Jiyane, is on top of the world as a mom, businesswoman and lover. The 32-year-old has just released a new single, Colours, featuring Tamara Dey and has opened her first watch shop, Era, in Joburg’s Newtown precinct. The mother to 15-month-old Kairo returned from New York where she visited her friend Pearl Thusi, and posted a pic of a very handsome man that created a huge social media buzz. On the day of our shoot, we were fortunate enough to meet Brendon Naidoo, the hunk who’s snatched Zinhle’s heart. How did they meet?

“His cousin [Sashin] sent me a Twitter message for a business proposal and I met up with him at Brendon’s office. I thought he was a really nice guy because he let us use his office space to meet, and offered us food and drinks.” A month later, Brendon contacted Zinhle to check how she’s been and how she felt about her gig that coming weekend. “He invited me to lunch and, in my head, I thought Sashin and I would both be there, but Brendon was alone. We spoke for hours. I’ve basically seen him everyday since then,” she recalls. It’s unusual to interview a celeb at their home, but Zinhle has invited me for lunch at her cosy place, north of Joburg. A few minutes after my arrival, the doorbell rings and it’s Kiernan (AKA). He’s come to fetch Kairo for an outing. The parents hug each other in greeting, and Zinhle updates him of Kairo’s wellbeing, while she packs up her necessities for the day.