WATCH: Doja Cat's emotional end to first-ever SA concert
The singer, who has South African roots, ended her concert on an emotional note.
The SunBet Arena in Pretoria was packed with fans on 20 March as Doja Cat made her long-awaited South African debut.
Performing as part of the Global Citizen Move Afrika 2026 tour, the Grammy winner brought a high-energy show to the capital city.
The night kicked off with a cappella group The Joy, who previously joined Doja on stage at Coachella in 2024, followed by a set from Moonchild Sanelly, who also delivered an amazing, high-energy performance.
Doja Cat eventually took to the stage to perform hits like 'Paint the Town Red', 'Gorgeous' and 'Streets', delivering one of the best international live performances ever.
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In a nod to her South African heritage, the crowd chanted her real name, “Zandile”, in unison.
The singer responded with a local “haibo” and became visibly emotional during the set.
Closing the show, she told the audience: “For a place I’ve never been to, I feel like I’ve been here before. That’s what’s special about South Africa. I say thank you to everyone here tonight [Friday]. This is bigger than us; it’s bigger than me. It’s bigger than everybody here. This is one of the most fun shows I’ve ever done.”
@__amo.gelang Doja Cat concert in South Africa 🥺❤️. Argh man😪@Doja Cat #dojacat #tiktoksa #globalcitizen #dojacatconcert #fyp ♬ Candy - Doja Cat
@truelovemagazine After fans chant "Zandile", Doja Cat tearfully thanks the South African Global Citizen Move Afrika concert audience for "one of the most fun" shows for her to perform. #DojaCat #GlobalCitizen ♬ original sound - TRUELOVE
Doja Cat sends dad link to gay adult content
However, the celebration was quickly followed by social media friction. Doja Cat took to TikTok to post a video titled ‘The Deadbeat Chronicles’, where she called out her father, legendary 'Sarafina!' actor Dumisani Dlamini.
She claimed she invited him to the Pretoria show, but he allegedly turned her down.
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According to the singer: “He said that he couldn’t make it to my show because I don’t message him enough and I didn’t call him on WhatsApp.”
In response, the artist said she sent him a link to a gay adult movie site, telling him to find his ticket there.
@dojacat LOOOOOOOOOL i sent him tim tales
♬ original sound - Doja Cat
Despite the public fallout, several fans posted photos and videos on social media claiming Dlamini was actually spotted in the crowd at the SunBet Arena.
Dumisani also claimed that security said he was not allowed at his daughter's concert.
@naleestrellebelle Management kicked out Doja Cat’s dad(Dumisani Dlamini) of her show at Sunbet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa. #dojacat #southafrica #concert ♬ original sound - your daily dose of Nalé
Dlamini, who rose to fame as Crocodile in 'Sarafina!' and Chester in 'Yizo Yizo', responded to the “deadbeat” labels in a now-deleted Instagram post.
The Durban-born actor met Doja’s mother, Deborah Sawyer, while touring the US in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Defending his record, Dlamini stated: “I want to tell you the facts. I’ve worked hard to make my name, my reputation. I’ve worked hard, I’ve fought for this country… with 'Sarafina!'. I have been sad, but no one knows why…”
He went on to claim that Sawyer had influenced their daughter’s perception of him. “You can’t be in a foreign country and find a woman, a white woman with three kids. And then you make two kids with her. And then she becomes so lucky that she gives birth to a superstar. She gives information to the superstar that her father is not a good man. I’m talking about a white, Jewish woman.”
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He continued: “I’m not going to be used by a white woman with three kids. I was feeding those kids with the money from 'Sarafina!'. I love my kids and I took care of her kids. Three white kids who hated me.”
Dlamini further alleged that Sawyer faked a meeting when she visited South Africa.
“That white woman brainwashed my baby, that I had left her. I never left my kid. She played the cards because of being influenced by her mother. She came to South Africa. She’s got power to see me, and she faked it.”
Doja Cat’s father Dumisani Dlamini explains why he was never present in her life. pic.twitter.com/1wUQXJ6xwx
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) March 22, 2026
Doja Cat’s family and South African roots
It is no surprise that Doja Cat is a creative powerhouse, as artistic talent is clearly a family trait. Her mother, Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer, is a painter and clothing designer, while her father, Dumisani Dlamini, is a legendary figure in the South African entertainment industry.
Born in Durban on 23 October 1963, the Zulu actor and dancer first made his mark in the 1987 premiere of the musical 'Sarafina!'. His talent took him to Broadway from January 1988 to July 1989, eventually leading to his role in the 1992 'Sarafina!' film alongside Whoopi Goldberg.
It was during a US tour with Mbongeni Ngema’s crew in the 1990s that Dlamini met Sawyer. The couple had two children, a son, Raman, and a daughter, Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, now known to the world as Doja Cat. After living in the US for a few years, Dlamini returned home to South Africa, where he continued his career in TV and music, becoming a household name for roles like Crocodile in 'Sarafina!' and Chester in 'Yizo Yizo'.
A complicated connection
While Doja Cat has previously acknowledged her father’s talent, the relationship remains strained. In an interview with 'Radio One D.C.', she noted: “He’s an incredible dancer and a great actor. But yeah, I don’t know him very well.”
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Image: TikTok/ Screenshot