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The Lyric theatre was filled to capacity in the name of laughter for the long-awaited Comedy Central recording of The Roast of Somizi, who is fondly known as “Somgaga”.
The humiliation of the flamboyant choreographer and radio personality was a three-hour affair of low blows, jaw-dropping moments, no-holds-barred comebacks and explosive laughter.
The emcee, comedian Mpho “Popps” Modikoane joked about land expropriation and the South African national anthem.
Personalities attending the roast included musician Donald, radio deejay Masechaba Ndlovu and comedian Kagiso Lediga.
Roastmaster Gareth Cliff cut to the chase with a quick swipe at Mhlongo. He said that since he was engaged to the young Mohale Motaung, they should quickly go on honeymoon before schools reopen – after all, he is an economics student at Wits University.
Those who lined up to make fun of Mhlongo were news anchor Joanne Joseph, comedians Skhumba Hlophe and Schalk Bezuidenhout, media personality Nomzamo Mbatha, ANC head of elections Fikile Mbalula, singer Kurt Darren, poet Ntsiki Mazwai and the legendary DJ Fresh.
Mbalula fell victim to a jibe from Mbatha when she said the ANC’s election head was “addicted to attention”.
“When you heard of political party ANC, you missed the ‘political’ and focused on the ‘party’,” she told him.
Newsreader Joseph took the audience by surprise with her salvos at Mazwai.
“If you say talent to the mirror three times, Ntsiki Mazwai appears.”
Joseph threw shade at Mhlongo about his engagement to a younger man: “If you’re here, who’s putting the child to sleep?” she wanted to know.
“You were crap in Sarafina for playing that straight guy,” she added.
Hlophe cracked up the crowd with his unshakable sense of humour. One of his casualties was Joseph, who he called “Gupta lady”.
He lambasted Mbalula, saying he was demoted from being a minister and reduced to handing out ANC flyers and T-shirts. “They promoted Bathabile, but you’re the sober one,” he said, referring to former social development minister, now Minister of Women Bathabile Dlamini.
Mhlongo had a comeback and told Joseph she looked like she was attending a parents’ meeting.
“Ntsiki is launching tomorrow. What? I don’t know.”
Mbatha is currently dating Maps Maponyane and got a slap for it from Mhlongo: “Nomzamo has dated famous gay men. Go to Google ‘Maps’,” he said, leaving the house in stitches.
The roast will be aired on DStv’s Comedy Central channel on Monday, May 7, at 9pm.
