Image: @shxtsngigs / Instagram
While appearing on the Deep It! podcast, James and Fuhad from the popular British podcast ShxtsNGigs explained how they almost didn’t tour South Africa for their 2026 Daddy’s Home show due to a few challenges along the way. Many South Africans side-eyed the explanation provided.
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James explained that South Africa didn’t have many live performances, and because the country didn’t have a large touring circuit, the venues were either too small or too big. The duo was looking to have an intimate gathering and fill 1 000 seats, but James claimed that such a small venue ‘didn’t exist.’ They were allegedly only offered venues with roughly 5 000 seats, which they thought would be terrifying.
James also claimed that South Africa’s version of Live Nation Entertainment, an American ticketing giant, had never operated a podcast show and was sceptical about hosting the British content creators.
After years of back-and-forths between the ShxtsNGigs team and the local unnamed entertainment company, James shared that they were then able to host at least 5 000 people in their live shows in Johannesburg (The Goldrush Dome) and Cape Town (Grand Arena, GrandWest).
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South Africans question ShxtsNGigs’ explanation
Several South Africans headed to the comment section to share their opinion. One user shared a list of venues that seated approximately 1 000 people. These venues included the Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town (roughly 1 500 seats), Joburg Theatre (1 069 seats), and the Linder Auditorium (1 059 seats) at Wits University.
@kemy_m added under the post, “We as South Africans are shocked about what you are saying.”
@mpeezozo laughed and claimed, “This is misinformation.”
@afroteetee told the online community, “They had hoped to have an intimate show of 1 000 peeps; however, venues led them to making the decision of 5 000, and they actually secured 5 000 peeps than their initial 1 000. It’s not that in South Africa a show with those numbers isn’t possible.”
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