A blast from the past shakes up SA media
Last week, radio and media personality Sizwe Dhlomo took to X to throw the spotlight back on a 16-year-old feud with fellow broadcaster Gareth Cliff. On 27 November 2025, Dhlomo revisited a spat that originally erupted when Gareth Cliff publicly celebrated the late health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang. In doing so, he labelled Cliff “always a loser,” stirring up memories of a long-forgotten clash and reigniting attention across South Africa’s media circles.
The controversy that sparked it all
Back in the late 2000s, the comments by Gareth Cliff earned backlash. For Dhlomo, that moment wasn’t merely political. It became personal. His recent post suggests that he never let go—that the incident left a lasting mark. In 2025, he revisited those events not for nostalgia but to challenge Cliff’s legacy and underscore what he views as a pattern.
Social media erupts: support, criticism, nostalgia
As soon as Dhlomo’s post dropped, social media lit up. Some fans cheered him on, saying it takes guts to call out past wrongs, especially when someone tries to sweep them under the carpet. Others criticised him for dragging up a bygone conflict, arguing that old grudges do more harm than good. The divide was striking—for many, this debate crossed from celebrity gossip into broader questions around accountability, respect, and how public figures deal with their past.
What this says about media culture in South Africa
The Dhlomo-Cliff saga isn’t just celebrity drama. It reveals something deeper about media in South Africa. The fact that a dispute from 2009 still echoes in 2025 shows how unresolved conflicts can linger in public memory. It highlights how powerful words remain long after the microphones have been switched off. For listeners and viewers today, it serves as a reminder that controversies don’t quietly fade—they ripple outward, resurfacing when least expected.
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A fresh lens on old fights
Rather than view this as just a personal vendetta, perhaps the renewed feud signals a larger moment of reckoning. Dhlomo’s revisit could be about demanding integrity from media personalities. It could be a call for older generations to own up to past statements and their lasting impact. For younger South Africans watching, it might also say, “Don’t underestimate the long-term consequences of public commentary.”
Where things go from here
At this moment, neither Dhlomo nor Gareth Cliff has offered a joint reconciliation. But the conversation the post sparked is ongoing. For Dhlomo, it may not be about closure but accountability. For the public, it’s a chance to reflect on how media figures handle power, memory, and legacy. In South Africa’s fast-changing media landscape, this could very well be a conversation that shapes how we view celebrity, responsibility, and second chances.
Source: Briefly News
Featured Image: Mgosi
