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Leon Schuster does not regret the films and pranks that have made him one of South Africa's most recognizable artists. He insists that his comedy has always been aimed at bringing people together, despite criticism regarding his portrayal of different races.

The comedian and film director, aged 75, has faced intense scrutiny over the years for using blackface and racial stereotypes in his work. Nevertheless, he hopes his legacy will be remembered for the laughter he brought to audiences and his contribution to unifying South Africans.

In an exclusive interview with SABC presenter Leanne Manas, Schuster reflected on the controversies surrounding his work, his love for South Africans, and his determination to continue making films despite his age and health issues.

One film that drew particular criticism was 'Mom Jack,' in which Schuster portrayed a Black woman. This character faced accusations of cultural appropriation, raising questions about how race and identity are depicted.

However, Schuster defended this role, stating that it was inspired by his observations of domestic workers and their experiences in South Africa. He noted: 'By the way, the role I love most from all my films is Mom Jack. She was a lovely Black woman. I was simply depicting South African reality. This film was a kind of reality show for South Africa.'

He recounted spending hours observing his domestic worker, Sarah, studying her culture and daily life before embodying the character. Schuster also recalled dressing up as Mom Jack and walking through the streets of Cape Town to gauge people's reactions. He added: 'The coloured guys on the streets loved her, and I knew I had won that part. Because they identified with this woman.'

When asked if he had anything to apologize for, Schuster remained defiant about his approach to comedy, stating that his fascination with people's behavior and mannerisms has always influenced his creativity. He firmly declared: 'I am a clown, and I will die a clown. I will never stop. South Africans love humor. They prefer to mock another person. That is a fact.'

He emphasized the importance of understanding his audience, describing himself as someone striving to please people who wanted to give the viewers what they liked. His films were temporarily removed from the Showmax and DStv platforms in 2020 due to concerns about racial insensitivity, after which they were reinstated in 2025.

Despite the controversies surrounding his work, Schuster appears resolute in his desire to continue entertaining the public and challenging perceptions of what people can achieve in old age.

The artist announced that he is working on a new film with Netflix and has no intention of leaving the industry just because of his age. He stated: 'I want to prove to people and disprove the idea that I am now an old man and should leave this space.'

He also acknowledged that his health will present certain difficulties during filming, specifying that for some scenes in the upcoming film, he will need to use a wheelchair. Looking back on his career, Schuster expressed hope that he will be remembered not only for his comedy but also for the role he believes he played in uniting South Africans from different segments of society. He concluded: 'I just want to be remembered as a cheerful guy who loved his job and who had an impact on uniting our different demographic groups.'

During holidays, people strive to make everything, from clothes to jewelry, special and beautiful. Especially when it comes to decorating hands, an ethnic look seems incomplete without colorful bracelets. This is why women prefer to buy bracelets that match their saris and costumes. Currently, jelly bracelets are extremely popular, leading to a significant increase in their prices.

However, you can easily make jelly bracelets at home using old bracelets stored in the closet. Let's learn how to create beautiful jelly bracelets yourself from old ones.

What are jelly bracelets?

Jelly bracelets are bracelets with a transparent, shiny, and slightly glossy appearance. They look very attractive and suit both traditional and modern clothing well. Jelly bracelets in red, pink, purple, green, and blue colors look especially beautiful during holidays. They can be styled according to the chosen color and design.

What is needed to make jelly bracelets?

The process of creating jelly bracelets from old bracelets involves several steps:

• Choosing suitable bracelets: You need to select old plastic bracelets you have at home. It is important that they are not broken or heavily scratched. Take bracelets with a clean base that can be easily renewed.
• Thoroughly cleaning the bracelets: First, dust, dirt, and old shine must be removed from the bracelets. To clean the decorative elements of the old bracelets, they should be soaked in warm water for a few minutes. After soaking, they should be removed using a spoon. Soaking in warm water helps the decorative elements or shine swell and detach easily.
• Cleaning the decorative elements: Next, the bracelets should be dipped in cold water. Then, using your nails, carefully remove the decorative elements, taking caution.
• Giving the bracelets a jelly-like look in your favorite color: Now it is time to give the bracelets a new color. For this, you can use transparent paints, glossy art paint, or paints designed for plastic. You can apply red, purple, pink, orange, or green depending on your preference. If you want to achieve a jelly-like look, you should use paints with a transparent finish. After applying the paint, they must be thoroughly dried.
• Enhancing beauty with a glossy coating: To make the bracelets even brighter, you can apply a transparent glossy coating designed for plastic. This will give the bracelets a new and shiny look. It is important to ensure that the paint and coating used are safe and suitable for plastic.

Creating designer bracelets with beads and stones

If you want to give your jelly bracelets a heavier and more festive look, you can place small beads, stones, or gold-beaded bracelets between them. It is advisable to leave some bracelets completely smooth while decorating others with beads. This will make the entire set of bracelets very beautiful and designer.

International retail franchisor Alshaya Group is holding its first festive campaign, the 'Festival of Lights,' in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This promotion features an exclusive range of products and collections from the company's popular brands, such as H&M, Starbucks, Shake Shack, Ulta Beauty, and others.

The campaign runs until November 8, allowing customers in the UAE to enjoy various festive offers. These include a special creamy chicken menu at Shake Shack in collaboration with Asha’s, a cinnamon latte at Starbucks, a Diwali-themed collection for women from H&M, Bollywood Glam Beauty masterclasses with Indian founder Vimi Joshi at Ulta Beauty, and gift sets from cosmetic brands, including Jo Malone and Bath & Body Works.

Steve Vikirstaff, Chief Operating Officer of Alshaya Group, noted that the launch of these first specialized festive collections reflects the company's commitment to serving and engaging with the region's diverse communities. He added that the Aura loyalty program has been amplified by a 10x campaign to make every store visit unforgettable for shoppers.

As part of the 'Festival of Lights,' Alshaya rewards shoppers through its Aura loyalty program. Program members can enhance their festive purchases with the 10x campaign, which allows them to unlock a series of rewards, exclusive gifts, and multiplied points.

Participants receive progressively increasing Aura point multipliers with each transaction: from 2x on the second purchase up to 10x on the tenth. This provides the opportunity to receive up to five generous gifts, including: a Starbucks cinnamon latte (after 2x transactions), a Pinkberry Festival of Lights mini cup (after 4x transactions), a Shake Shack creamy chicken burger (after 6x transactions), a Bath & Body Works body spray (after 8x transactions), and 100 AED in Aura points (after 10x transactions).

Aura members can earn and spend points across favorite brands, access personalized shopping, dining, and lifestyle experiences. They also receive priority notifications about sales and promotions across Alshaya's portfolio of over 30 brands, including American Eagle, Foot Locker, Victoria’s Secret, H&M, Bath & Body Works, Charlotte Tilbury, Raising Cane’s, Shake Shack, Chipotle, Primark, and Ulta Beauty. Members of the Aura Star and VIP tiers receive accelerated Aura point accrual, as well as exclusive offers such as early access to sales, invitations, and free online delivery.

Since its launch in 2022, Aura has become one of the leading loyalty programs in the region, boasting over 8 million participants. The program was recently recognized for the third consecutive year at the International Loyalty Awards, winning the 'Best International Loyalty Program in the Middle East' award.