South African Award-winning DJ and entrepreneur DJ Zinhle has jokingly opened up about a 20-year-old mistake that still makes her laugh, revealing she once scratched Black Coffee’s car after getting lost on the busy streets of Gauteng.

Speaking to L-Tido on his podcast,  Zinhle reflected on what she described as one of her earliest and most nerve-wracking moments in the industry.

The person who gave her the keys that day was none other than Grammy-winning DJ Black Coffee, who she says believed in her talent long before the rest of the industry did.

Although two decades have passed, Zinhle said the memory is still fresh.

“Somebody is going to find out today that I messed their car up,” she said with a laugh during her interview.

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Known for hits like Umlilo the star said Black Coffee was the first major industry figure to recognize her craft and introduce her to key people.

Born in KwaZulu-Natal, Zinhle explained that while she could drive, she was more used to the quieter roads back home than the traffic in Gauteng.

At the time, in 2006, she had to travel from Pretoria for a photoshoot in Sandton. Black Coffee, in what she called a generous gesture, lent her his Polo.

What was supposed to be a smooth trip quickly took a turn. After leaving the city at 2pm, she got lost and only arrived at her destination five hours later.

Frustrated and flustered, Zinhle attempted to make an easy turn near a restaurant on Greyston Drive.

“I tried to turn, but I didn’t see the pavement, so I scratched his car in front,” she said.

Beyond the scratched bumper, Zinhle said her relationship with Black Coffee shaped her career.

She first crossed paths with him after being invited to DJ at Metro FM. Her set caught his attention, and he called the station to ask who was behind the decks. Days later, they met again at another radio station. That’s when she approached him.

“I’m that girl who was deejaying that night,” she told him.

His response stuck with her, “Really? You are so good. You should really take it seriously,” he said.

They exchanged numbers, but Zinhle lost his contact after her phone was stolen. The two eventually reconnected when she visited Pretoria.

Before meeting  Oskido, it was Black Coffee who first pushed her to take DJing seriously.

Zinhle admitted the confession was made lightly, but also as a nod to how far both she and Black Coffee have come since those early days.

At the time of publication, Black Coffee has not responded to the incident. For Zinhle, the story highlights the people who showed up for her when she was still unknown.

“Black Coffee was the person who believed in me and introduced me to industry figures,” she said.

Her interview has since made rounds online, with fans reacting to the throwback confession and the full-circle moment between two of South Africa’s biggest DJs.

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