Boity Thulo beat the banker and spilled the tea on Deal or No Deal Celebrity
This July, Mzansi’s beloved “Queen of Glamour”, Boity Thulo, has once again demonstrated through a series of high-profile adventures that “Own your throne” remains true in describing her “24-carat” life in the limelight.
First, she graced the tracks with a head-turning protea-inspired garment at the Durban July. Then, she jetted off to Greece for an Instagram-worthy holiday, and this past weekend, she was a shining star on Deal or No Deal Celebrity, the glitzy SABC 1 show in which A-listers put their hearts on the line for a worthy cause.
Not only did Boity beat the show’s esteemed banker in the pre-recorded episode, but her winnings of R44,780 marked a milestone for Jumping Kids, a charity organisation that transforms the lives of children with lower-limb amputations. Thanks to Boity’s contribution, the funds in the Jumping Kids Deal or No Deal money pot have now rocketed to over R300,000.
Considering the odds stacked against the players in this rollercoaster game of chance, this is quite an achievement. No wonder Boity admitted to host Katlego Maboe that she was a bundle of nerves. As a Deal or No Deal fan, she knew the mechanics quite well, especially how declining or accepting the banker’s deal at the wrong moment could be disastrous. Adding to the pressure was Boity’s heartfelt wish to gather a substantial amount for the charity that represents hope, faith, and empowerment—values she has always cherished.
Making matters worse, she struggled to eliminate the dreaded briefcase with R1 inside, which could have lowered the banker’s offer for the one she selected as her bargaining chip. At one point, the stressed Boity even kicked off her sparkly heels, and more than once, when the chances of winning big seemed to be slim, she jokingly threatened to quit the game.
Still, amid all the game’s ups and downs, it was fun – and inspiring – having Boity in the house. At Katlego’s request, everyone’s darling dynamo listed her top five songs, which resulted in good vibes, singing and dancing. She also spilled some Boity tea.
In a special on-screen announcement, Boity updated the approximately one million Deal or No Deal Celebrity viewers about the next step in her career: expanding her artistic flair to interior design.
“It might not be what people expected,” Boity explained. “My vision is to merge the worlds of transformation and interior design, using them both as powerful tools to impact people’s lives meaningfully. I’m passionate about learning, growing, and ultimately becoming a pro in the field, while changing lives.”
Like all of Boity’s successful ventures – from being an actress to an award-winning rapper, businesswoman, and role model – there’s no doubt that Boity’s new dream is destined to turn gold.
After all, as she coined in the song “018’s Finest”, she “ain’t no regular motho”. That prompted Katlego to find out exactly when and how she had realised that.
According to Boity, it all began with her grandparents and mom: They always spoke “growth and power and love to me.” It helped her to believe in herself, trust herself, and feel comfortable in a space where the world is limitless. “I don’t think you should wait for yourself to see yourself as some pinnacle you should reach. Walk through life knowing that you already are the dream that has come true.”
Boity’s boundless optimism is also deeply rooted in her spirituality. “It’s my ground. It’s my grace. It’s how I manoeuvre through every single day.”
But which songs in her awesome catalogue made it to Boity’s personal favourite five?
Unsurprisingly, “Wuz Dat?”, the colab with Nasty C that propelled her career from a screen star to a celebrated music artist, came out on top. It made her the country’s first platinum-selling female rapper and earned her the Best Collaboration award at the 2018 South African Hip Hop Awards.
The others she mentioned, in no particular order, were “More than That,” the EP she released with Roiii last year; the gutsy “Utatakho,” in which she opened up about her father and personal journey—topics she wouldn’t usually rap about; and “Kele Batla One by One,” which celebrates love and connection.
And what would the list be without the quintessential Boity number, “018’s Finest”? In this song featuring Maglera Doe Boy and Ginger Trill, the “018” refers to the dialling code of her hometown, Potchefstroom, the place that gave birth to Boity’s queendom. “It’s a song that truly embodies who I am... one of those songs that will forever be a forever moment for me,” she said.
Deal or No Deal Celebrity, airing on SABC 1 on Saturdays at 18:00, is a spin-off of the hugely popular daily Deal or No Deal South Africa. The show is proudly sponsored by LottoStar and produced by Homebrew Films for Primedia Studios.
Lottostar is Licensed by the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator. No U18. National Responsible Gambling Programme 0800 006 008. Ts & Cs apply. All games are fixed-odds betting events.
