Social media prompts redesign of Malinga’s tombstone statue
ROBBIE Malinga’s 7-ton tombstone statue is set to be removed and redesigned after social media was inundated with comments about the lack of resemblance it had to the music icon.
The life-sized statue tombstone, along with replica awards that Malinga scooped over his 20-year music career, was unveiled on Tuesday afternoon at Johannesburg’s Westpark Cemetery, where he was laid to rest.
Bataung Memorials CEO Lebohang Khitsane said yesterday morning they had decided to go back to the drawing board after the negative feedback on social media.
“We have seen the feedback and have decided to remove the tombstone and redesign it based on that. People have pointed out that the features on the statue does not resemble Robbie 100%.”
Khitsane said he made the decision because as a company they prided themselves on “shocking” the industry with unique tombstones.
“Whether the feedback is good or bad‚ you have to take it and learn from it. So we will go back to the drawing board and take it to the next level.”
Khitsane said the design of the tombstone had been inspired by the “award-winning” life Malinga lived and the impact he made on the music industry.
He added his team would be working closely with the Malinga family on the redesign‚ which will be unveiled on January 23.
Khitsane revealed it took a team of 15 people to make the tombstone‚ which cost an estimated R500 000.
Malinga’s business partner and family spokesman TK Nciza said they were not stressed about peoples’ opinions of the tombstone.
“For us the most important thing is that our brother is resting in peace and that the family is able to go on. If he [Khitsane] wants to fix it and thinks he can do a better job‚ then great but we are not stressed about it.”
Malinga died on Christmas Day after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in June. — DDC