Shamiso Mosaka: South African TV star removed from CemAir plane for 'unruly' behaviour

South African TV personality Shamiso Mosaka was reportedly removed from a flight from Durban to Johannesburg due to her "unruly" behavior, according to officials.

On Monday, local airline CemAir stated that the flight experienced a 90-minute delay because the influencer refused to comply with "safety regulations," leading the pilot to halt the engines that were already running.

Ms. Mosaka did not respond to the BBC's request for comment, but she did document the incident on Instagram Live. With over 140,000 followers on Instagram and a role as a presenter on MTV Base South Africa, she has garnered significant attention.

The video of the incident has circulated widely on social media, drawing support for Ms. Mosaka. In the video, she is seen being asked to leave the flight by police officers but insists on being provided with another flight before she complies. The airline crew declines her request.

She attempts to justify her actions and seeks validation from other passengers to confirm that she wasn't causing a disturbance. Ms. Mosaka also suggests that the situation may be racially motivated, claiming that the cabin crew failed to adequately explain her alleged wrongdoing.

However, CemAir's Chief Financial Officer, Laura van der Molen, dismissed claims of racial profiling, stating to local newspaper The Citizen that Ms. Mosaka had simply "refused to adhere to the regulations of the airline and unfortunately had to be forcibly removed."

The incident unfolded on Sunday at King Shaka Zulu International Airport. CemAir has reported the matter to the South African police for further investigation and potential prosecution, pledging their cooperation with law enforcement.