Amapiano star Scotts Maphuma was struck by a bottle thrown from the crowd during a performance in Zimbabwe, triggering condemnation and heated debate online. The post South African amapiano star Scotts Maphuma struck by bottle during Zimbabwe performance appeared first on Nehanda Radio .
South African amapiano star Scotts Maphuma was struck by a bottle thrown from the crowd while performing in Zimbabwe, video footage circulating on social media shows.
The incident happened during an outdoor nighttime show, with the bottle appearing to hit Maphuma as he moved across the stage alongside other performers.
Footage shared on Monday by Everything Zim TV sparked angry reactions from Zimbabweans and South Africans, although the person responsible and the motive for the attack remain unknown.
Maphuma had been advertised to perform at Harare’s Aquatic Complex on Saturday, August 22.
🚨 SCOTTS MAPHUMA 🇿🇦 HIT WITH A BOTTLE ON STAGE! 😳💥
Scotts Maphuma was struck by a bottle while performing live in Zimbabwe. 🇿🇼 pic.twitter.com/g6a3tYMqP4
— Everything Zim 🇿🇼 (@everythingzimtv) August 24, 2026
Social-media posts promoting the event confirm his scheduled appearance, but Nehanda Radio could not independently establish from the footage whether the bottle incident occurred at that particular show.
The video shows performers walking across the illuminated stage before a bottle flies from the audience and strikes Maphuma. It was unclear whether he suffered any injury, and the singer had not publicly commented on the incident at the time of publication.
Some social-media users condemned the attack and criticised the treatment of visiting performers. Others used the incident to revive tribal and nationalistic arguments between Zimbabweans and South Africans.
There is currently no evidence showing that the bottle was thrown because Maphuma is South African.
The incident comes amid strained relations surrounding the treatment of Zimbabwean migrants in South Africa and campaigns against undocumented immigration.
Those tensions have increasingly affected entertainment events in Zimbabwe, where campaigners have pressured promoters to remove South African acts from festival line-ups.
A warning circulated online earlier this year threatening South African duo Mafikizolo ahead of their planned appearance at the Buddie Beatz Concert in Victoria Falls.
Amapiano star Musa Keys was subsequently dropped from the Mighty Zambezi Lager Bonfire Festival held at Donnybrook Park in Harare on July 4.
Organisers issued a revised programme featuring Zimbabwean performers following pressure on social media to prioritise local musicians. The state-owned Herald reported that the change followed mounting opposition to foreign acts.
South African gospel singer Ntokozo Ngongoma was also removed from the CLIMA Africa Awards line-up after publicly supporting anti-illegal immigration demonstrations in his country.
However, no direct connection has been established between those disputes and the attack on Maphuma.
Maphuma, whose real name is Mpho Lebajoa, has built a rapidly growing following through his energetic performances and viral amapiano releases.
He is best known for songs including “Yebo Lapho” and “Wishi Wishi”, while his “bathini bona” catchphrase and distinctive dance moves have generated popular social-media challenges.
The singer has worked with prominent performers and producers including Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa, Dlala Regal and LeeMcKrazy.
His Zimbabwe appearance demonstrated that South African musicians continue to attract local audiences despite the political and social-media tensions surrounding immigration.
