South Africa has had a difficult week, with the untimely deaths of Dr Sindi Van Zyl and 22-year-old Nellie Tembe. Dr. Sindi was well-known and well-liked in the radio industry. Nelli was AKA’s first non-celebrity girlfriend in years, as well as the first woman he proposed to. Nellie was a very private person, particularly considering her fiancé AKA’s celebrity. But she managed to keep her personal life as private as possible. In August 2020, she slipped into the DMs of a local tabloid, to express her dissatisfaction with a picture of herself that had been used in a post.

She was dissatisfied with the image quality and requested that they use better photographs of her in the future. “I don’t care about the papers because that’s what I signed up for,” Nellie said, “but at least use nice photos.” They had a brief encounter with this friendly, outgoing, and loving spirit, despite the fact that it was brief. She was well aware of the publicity she was receiving after her relationship with AKA was made public, but she was determined to keep her family out of the spotlight at all costs. “Well, I don’t mind if people know who I really am. My family and I are extremely private.”

It’s also difficult to accept that she’s no longer with us. Her death sent shockwaves across the world and touched many people. She reportedly died on the spot after jumping from the 10th floor of the Pepper Club Hotel in Cape Town on Sunday morning. The cause of her death is still being investigated by police. Fans have paid tribute to Nellie and former Kaya FM host Dr Sindi Van Zyl on social media since their deaths on Saturday morning. Her death was confirmed by her family in a statement. After weeks in the hospital, the 45-year-old succumbed to Covid19.

“In addition to the national outpouring of prayer, compassion, and support for Sindi, the Van Zyl family humbly thanks all who stood with them recently to help raise funds for her hospital bill. “We confirm the passing of our wife, mother, sister, and daughter Sindisiwe Van Zyl (45) with profound sadness,” their statement read.