The three-time Grammy winner will perform in Cape Town and Pretoria as part of his international tour on 17 and 18 October.
By Kaunda Selisho at The Citizen

Three-time Grammy Award-winning R&B icon Ne-Yo is headed back to South Africa.
Promoters Vertex Events have confirmed that the chart-topping hitmaker will perform live in two cities as part of his international tour.
South African fans can see him live at Grand Arena, GrandWest in Cape Town on Saturday, 17 October 2026, and at SunBet Arena in Pretoria on Sunday, 18 October 2026.
The announcement marks a much-anticipated return for the artist, born Shaffer Chimere Smith, who has built a devoted South African fan base over two decades of genre-defining hits.
These include anthems such as “Sexy Love”, “Because of You”, “Miss Independent”, “Closer” and, more recently, “Push Back”, featuring “Bebe Rexha” and “Stefflon Don”.
With a combined 23 billion streams worldwide, Ne-Yo arrives on home soil carrying one of the most formidable back catalogues in contemporary RnB.
A country music chapter
South African fans will be treated to a Ne-Yo in creative transition. His forthcoming country-inspired album, Highway 79, is set for release on 10 July and was recorded entirely in Nashville. The album title serves as a personal homage to his roots, referencing both his birth year, 1979, and Highway 79 in Arkansas, the state where he was born.
The project’s lead single, “Ms. Tundra”, offers a taste of this new direction. Produced by Chuck Harmony, the track blends Ne-Yo’s signature RnB sound with upbeat country instrumentation. The single has been described as a high-energy, line-dance-ready anthem built for communal movement.
By the time Ne-Yo takes the stage in Cape Town and Pretoria, Highway 79 will already be streaming, giving South African audiences the rare opportunity to hear new material performed live so soon after its release.
Ticket and Show Details
Vertex Events’ Executive Director Thato Segaole expressed enthusiasm about bringing the artist to local audiences.
“Giving the audiences a chance to experience a talented and respected artist such as Ne-Yo is a great pleasure for our team. We look forward to producing live shows of a great stature that will create endless talkability. Our vision to bring timeless music to the fans will once again happen with hard work, dedication and precision,” Segaole said in a statement.
Ne-Yo performs at Grand Arena, GrandWest, Cape Town, on Saturday, 17 October, and at SunBet Arena, Pretoria, on Sunday, 18 October. Tickets are available now at webtickets.co.za and at Pick n Pay stores nationwide, priced from R950. Gates will open at 6 PM on show days.
This article was republished from The Citizen. Read the original here.
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