The memorial service of the award-winning musician Zahara – real name Bulelwa Mkutukana was held on Thursday, 14 December at the Rhema Bible Church in Randburg, Johannesburg. In an interview outside the memorial service, TS Records boss Thembinkosi ‘TK’ Nciza said he knows that Zahara died knowing that he and her were on good terms.

‘SHE HAS TO BE RESPECTED’: TS RECORDS BOSS TK NCIZA AT ZAHARA’S MEMORIAL
Zahara died in a Johannesburg hospital on Monday, 11 December “surrounded by family and loved ones.” She passed away after suffering a short illness allegedly linked to liver problems. In a statement shared by her family earlier this week, her death was announced and she was described as “a beacon of hope, a gift, and a blessing to us and countless people around the world.”

Friends, family, and industry colleagues gathered at Zahara’s memorial service on Thursday. In an interview outside the memorial service, TS Records boss TK Nciza said despite what many people may think, he and Zahara were on speaking terms before she passed away.“This is a Zahara moment. That’s why I don’t understand why we should be dragging other things that don’t make sense. I mean, TS Records and Zahara’s story is 9 years old. We answered each other. We spoke, she spoke a story, and that’s it. She has to be respected. She has to be celebrated. What I know as a matter of fact is that she’s sleeping there knowing that we were on good terms and we appreciated each other and I’m happy about that,” Nciza said.

The late Loliwe hitmaker will be finally laid to rest on 23 December in East London, Eastern Cape. Zahara’s sister Bulelwa Mkutukana said that she was in the room when Zahara took her last breath.

“She was in pain at the hospital. I remember just after we left for the 15h00 visit, at 17h00 the doctor called and said we must come back. When Mama, Junior, and I got there, they told us to stay in the room and wait because Bulelwa would not be around for long… It was so painful, we were crying and prayed for four hours,” Bulelwa said.Media personality, Somizi Mhlongo lashed out at Zahara’s memorial service. The media popular personality said friends and other industry people failed the late singer when she was alive.

“There was a time I was hosting the SAMAs, and I made a joke about her drinking and stuff, only later did you realize what you say to people, how you make people feel is very important and I learned my lesson because I took it for granted as a joke. I didn’t know how much I hurt her, realised later. Luckily, we had time on earth to reconcile and become friends again but still, she went through a rough time, where was Somizi? Nowhere. Where were we? Nowhere,” the SABC quoted him as saying.