Zahara died barely a few weeks after her traditional wedding reception. In November, the multi-award-winning musician reportedly tied the knot with her fiancé Mpho Xaba. Their wedding reception invitation photo is topping trends in the backdrop of her untimely death. The star said ‘Yes’ after being proposed in March. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, she confirmed the news by flaunting her R10 000 customised engagement ring.

However, in November, it was reported that Xaba and Zahara had a traditional wedding reception. No doubt little was known about their reception up until her admission.

 

 

 

According to Sunday World sources, Zahara had two wedding receptions on the cards. The receptions were to be divided into two ceremonies. The source said she would have two wedding receptions, a traditional wedding followed by a white wedding. However, they had their traditional wedding before things turned south. Speaking anonymously, the source revealed they were already preparing for their wedding.

Despite keeping her private life under wraps over the years, Zahara often opened up about her love life. Before Xaba, she had been engaged twice. In 2017, she was engaged to Umhlobo Wenene FM radio presenter Amaza Nstshnga. After five years, the two called it quits. Two years later, she was reportedly engaged to Ian Sibiya. However, their relationship did not last long.

The South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had blows coming in from all angles on social media after he posted his tribute for the award-winning South African Afro-pop star, Zahara – real name Bulelwa Mkutukana who died on Monday, 11 December – social media users came in guns glazing in the comment section, criticising the President’s tribute and demanded him to do more.

 

Zahara passed away at 36 years earlier this week, just weeks following a family statement that revealed she was admitted to hospital. The beloved musician was hospitalised, reportedly with liver complications, BBC reported. According to the publication, in 2019, she had also opened up about her battle with alcohol addiction.

A family statement posted on social media on Tuesday, 12 December revealed that Zahara died on Monday.

“We Mourn the Passing of Zahara. It is with heavy hearts and deepest sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved daughter, sister, and friend, Zahara… She was a pure light, and an even purer heart, in this world… a gift, and a blessing to us and countless people around the world,” the statement read.

Cyril Ramaphosa has since paid tribute to the late star as seen in a short clip posted on his timeliness, however, South Africans have not received his tribute with open arms. Instead, they questioned how genuine his tribute was and demanded him to give her a state funeral.

Zahara’s tragic and untimely passing marks another dark day in the South African entertainment industry. It’s also a reminder of all the beautiful, talented female artists whose lights were prematurely snuffed out.

 

On Monday, 11 December, it was announced that the singer had died after a long battle with liver complications. She was only 35 years old.

According to Sunday World, Zahara died on Monday evening at a private Johannesburg hospital. She was surrounded by her close family and fiancé Mpho Xaba.

The SAMA-winning artist had a long struggle with her health. In 2019, she was diagnosed with liver failure and spent a month in hospital. In a 2020 interview on the TV show Dinner With Somizi, the star admitted to previously abusing alcohol.

During the interview, she also vowed that she was a “changed person” and “not a prisoner to alcohol.”

6 SA FEMALE STARS WHO DIED BEFORE 40
Like Zahara, here are more talented SA singers who unexpectedly died…

Lebo Mathosa

In 2006, Lebo Mathosa died after sustaining extensive injuries in a car crash on the N3 near East Rand.

The Boom Shaka singer was reportedly thrown out of her Toyota Prado when the driver lost control and crashed into a tree. Lebo – who was 29 years old – was not wearing a seatbelt.

Related

South Africans thanked Anele for defending Zahara who reportedly played her songs on air on Tuesday, 12 December.

@Deartroublegal tagged the radio personality and tweeted: “Thank you @Anele for saying it loud on air. “They took her money, but they couldn’t take away her talent”.

 

@Tabongz_SA quoted the radio personality and tweeted: “They took her money, but they couldn’t take her talent away” @Anele

The musician’s old videos about her fight for “fair” remuneration against her first record label, TS Records also trended this week after her family confirmed her passing.

TshisaLIVE reports that the Loliwe singer spoke with pain about remuneration under TS records, owned by Thembinkosi “TK” Nciza and Sibusiso Leope aka DJ Sbu.

The award-winning singer, who left the label in 2017 revealed on Podcast and Chill : “They still owe me, for real. At the end of the day, they know what they did. They could charge for gigs R80,000 or R120,000 with the full band or R100,000. I used to get R15,000, but even that I had to beg for.”

SABC confirmed that Zahara passed away on Monday evening, 11 December at the age of 36 in a Johannesburg hospital.

The singer’s memorial servi

@TheeFirstLaidee: “So touching @Anele @AneleAndTheClub. I remember when her first album was released, we bought multiple copies of the cd at home. Played it day and night!! Zahara was so talented Loliwe is no doubt a classic!!”

@ruwa_dzano: “I remember when Loliwe was released, I had just bought my first car. I went to Cresta Mall and bought my first CD for my car. Loliwe was the first CD I bought, and it was played on repeat to work from work, everywhere …. Zahara, rest in perfect peace.

The year is 2011 and South Africans are dancing and singing along to music by a 24-year-old Eastern Cape-born singer and a 23-year-old Johannesburg-born rapper. These two artist would go on to become household names in their own right and win multiple awards for their chart-topping music.2011: NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
The 11th Metro FM music awards in 2011 saw Bulelwa “Zahara” Mkutukana going pound for pound with rap superstar AKA – real name Kiernan Jarryd Forbes.

 
The hotly-contested awards ceremony resulted in the two stars walking away with three gongs each. Zahara scooped the Best Female Album, Hit Single of the Year for Le Ngoma featuring DJ Sbu, and Song of the Year for Loliwe.

On the other hand, AKA won best Newcomer, Best Hip-hop Album and Best-produced Album for his debut project Altar Ego.

2012: SAMAS2012: SAMAS
A year later and the pair were again the stars of yet another awards event – the South African Music Awards (Samas). This time, however, Zahara dominated with a staggering eight awards to AKA’s two trophies.

Zahara won in the Best Smooth Urban Music Album, Special Award: Best Selling Album and Album of the Year categories. She was also named Newcomer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year and scooped up the Best Collaboration award for Incwad’ Encane featuring Georgy.

AKA also shone on the night as he won Best Street Urban Music Album Award for Alter Ego as well as Best Male Artist of the Year; becoming the second hip-hop act to do so since the late HHP (Hip-Hop Pantsula).

In his 2023 song titled Last Time – which is found on his posthumous album, Mass Country – AKA makes mention of these iconic moments.

“Sacrificed my reputation, drew lines in the sand
So the next generation don’t have to bow their head
Went head to head with Zahara,” he raps in the song.

2023: RIP AKA AND ZAHARA
Eleven years later, in 2023, both AKA and Zahara bow out of the music industry and the world.

AKA, also known as the Supa Mega, was brutally shot and killed outside a Durban restaurant on 10 February – the case is still under investigation.

Ten months later, Zahara lost her battle to an undisclosed illness on 11 December at a private hospital in Johannesburg.

Her family said in a statement on Tuesday that it would like for the musician to be remembered for healing the nation through her inspirational music.

“A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered. May we remember Zahara not with sorrow, but with the healing, joy, kindness, and inspiration she brought to us through her life and her music.