SOWETO – South African Kwaito music legend, Mapaputsi, real name Sandile Ngwenya, has died after a long battle with illness.
Mapaputsi, aged 45, rose to fame with his 2001 hit single Izinja, which became a Kwaito anthem and firmly established him as a pioneer of the genre.
His death comes only a few weeks after the star had declared that he was in good health.
“Baphi laba, baphi laba…bathi ubani osembhedeni? (Where are they, where are they… they say I’m bedridden?) Angizwanga…mina ngise Durban mos, awufuna uku’booker book see you soon (Excuse me…I’m in Durban, if you want to book, book see you soon),” he reportedly said last month.
Prior to that, close associates of the musician had expressed concern at his deteriorating health.
“Sandile is no more,” said his tearful wife, Dieketseng Ayolla Ngwenya.
His manager Busi Kunene also confirmed the news with TshisaLIVE. Mapaputsi died on Thursday night.
“He has passed on. We’ll issue a press statement and we’ll host a media briefing in due course,” she said.
In an official statement released shortly after, the family confirmed that the Izinja hitmaker had died due to an undisclosed illness.
“The family of the South African kwaito legend Sandile Ngwenya popularly know as Mapaputsi are saddened to confirm to the media and public of the passing of their son Mapaputsi,” the statement said.
“Mapaputsi met his untimely death in the late hours of Thursday, 05 September 2024, after a short illness.”
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