Gospel singer Bucy Radebe withdrew from performing at the African National Congress (ANC) 114th anniversary celebration on January 10, 2026, at Moruleng Stadium in Rustenburg, North West province. She arrived at the venue at 8 a.m. but left after an eight-hour wait due to repeated changes in the program schedule.
Radebe explained that she was initially scheduled to perform after an interfaith segment, but another artist took the stage instead. Later, her slot was moved to after the cake-cutting ceremony, where the same issue occurred. She described feeling undervalued and cited unfair treatment as the reason for her departure.
In social media posts, which she later removed, Radebe stated, “I was hurt by ANC treatment, that’s why I left.” She emphasized that her career success comes from her faith, saying, “No booking made me, I started to be booked after God discovered me.” She also apologized to fans who had hoped to see her perform.
Event organizers reportedly told her team that she would be blacklisted from future ANC or government events. Radebe accepted the potential consequences and contrasted the experience with a positive one at the ANC Women’s League Umanyano service in Rustenburg earlier that week, where she received a warm welcome from Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula and others.
Fans on social media supported Radebe’s decision, praising her for standing against poor treatment and sparking discussions on respect for artists in the industry.
Bucy Radebe, born Busisiwe Radebe in Mabopane near Pretoria, is known for albums like Spiritual Encounter and The Grace Encounter. She has won awards, including a South African Music Award, and runs a foundation supporting education and health in underprivileged communities.
The ANC event featured President Cyril Ramaphosa’s keynote address, focusing on the party’s history and priorities ahead of elections. No official response from the ANC regarding Radebe’s claims was available as of January 12, 2026.
