Humanity is bombarded on a daily basis with images of celebrities – during the news, reading a magazine, on television, and when listening to the radio. Sure, celebrities are people with talent, and I respect that.  What I find wrong however is the excessive voyeuristic stalking that the media has been serving up to the public for years.

To be honest, as much as I disapprove, I myself like to enjoy the perks that are also presented, such as knowing which celebrity will be gracing my home city, Cape Town. I was fortunate enough to meet several celebrities a few years ago when waitressing at a classy restaurant in Cape Town, and most of them I can honestly say, are really wonderful people.

1.  Danny Koppel aka Danny K

This popular local musician is often spotted around South Africa, and as of last year, he tied the knot with long-time fiancée, Lisa Gundelfinger. In June 2012, the book he’d been writing as part of a series with other celebrities was published, and is titled “The Youngsters: Take it from Me”. The pages are filled with anecdotes about his life, the music business’ ups and the downs, as well as the numerous lessons he’s learnt along the way. He’s also been spotted around Hout Bay, with some lekker Fish and Chips, and appeared at Samsung Be the Band in Pretoria last August.  Follow him on twitter.

2.  Kgomotso Christopher

This well-known TV starlet plays the character of Katlego Sibeko on the popular drama, Isidingo. She has received acclaim for her modelling, and has appeared on Top Billing as well. Not just pretty but smart too, Kgomotso holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from UCT in Cape Town and an MFA from Columbia University, in the Big Apple. She is often spotted hanging out at popular events, such as the SA Fashion Show, Durban July, and You Spectacular Awards, with her husband in tow. During the week, she unwinds at home with her loving family. Follow her on twitter.

3.   Nomfusi

This pretty and talented young lady has been on the rise since her discovery in 2007. Together with her backing band, The Lucky Charms, she has become an international sensation. “Kwazibani” was her first album, and was done entirely in Xhosa. In the album, she conveys all the emotions she experienced during her mother’s life, and during her death. Nomfusi grew up in Port Elizabeth, before moving to one of Cape Town’s townships. Her biggest highlight thus far was when she got the opportunity to sing at the V&A Waterfront, at the One and Only hotel. She shared the stage with other celebrities such as Mariah Carey and Hugh Masekela. One of her favourite restaurants happens to be “Stardust”, situated along the main road of Rondebosch.

4.   30 Seconds to Mars

Despite not being home-grown honeys, the American band 30 Seconds to Mars have a very soft spot in their hearts for South Africa, especially Cape Town. In fact, they attribute their current success to a rented accommodation in Camps Bay. Rumour has it that this mysterious Camps Bay house is where they wrote their first hit song. Jared Leto, lead singer, has been quoted as saying that another very popular song, “Queens and Kings”, is “a thousand per cent South African.” If you’re hoping to spot them, hang around Camps Bay beach this summer. Follow them on twitter:

5.  Goldfish

This Cape Town band has received international attention, and has won numerous awards for their upbeat, jazz and electro sounds. They often feature guest singers such as Sakhile Moleshe, Monique Hellenberg, and David Poole. If you’re looking to spot them, you’ll likely find them hanging out in Cape Town, at places such as Caveau, or Ignite in Camps Bay. Recently, Goldfish featured Morning Parade, a British band, on their track “Washing over Me” which was used on the “Nike+ App” advertisement. Follow them on twitter.

Let us know which celebrities you’ve spotted around the country recently, and if they’re as nice in person as their PR Company makes them out to be.

Main image (C) of dannyk.com