King Monada to miss Metro Awards
KING Monada has chosen to be by his sick child’s bed and miss out on the festivities of Metro FM Music Awards tomorrow night.
This was meant to be the biggest night of his career yet since the runaway success of his hit single Ska Bhora Moreki. He is nominated in the Song of the Year category at the awards to be held in Durban. He was also on the line-up of performers.
But Monada has chosen family over the glitz of the industry.
His two-year-old son Kgothatso Junior Maenetja is fighting for his life at Letaba Hospital in Tzaneen with a mysterious illness the doctors have not yet diagnosed.
It has been a week since the infant has been struck down by the disease. This is Monada’s second child. His eldest is six years old.
In a short statement that he sent from home in Tzaneen, Monada was regretful: “I hereby apologise to Metro FM and my fans for not being able to make it to the awards ceremony. I really would have loved to come and entertain them and show my appreciation for the support they have given me. I have to be with my son, who has been fighting for his life at Letaba Hospital.”
His manager Lionel Jamela said Monada had been disappointed and hurt. “It was my first time seeing him cry like that for his son. He is hurting. So we have decided to block his gigs until the child is better.
“It’s frustrating to watch a child that ill and we wish we could help. They don’t have a Red Cross hospital in that part of the world, but we have decided that if the child doesn’t improve by next week we will have to take steps to help take him to better facilities.”
Jamela said Monada’s fans will be disappointed by his absence “especially people from KwaZulu-Natal who love Ska
Bhora Moreki and would have been able to see him for the first time”.
Jamela said Monada had so far missed appearances on TV shows like Live Amp because of the child.
“We were all excited and looking forward to the performance. He was also going to be at Eyadini (a popular hangout spot in Umlazi).
“Monada is a man of few words. He likes performing and does his talking on the stage. He is convinced he will take the Song of the Year.”
At the SABC Summer Song competition Ska Bhora Moreki was controversially beaten by little known Van Damme by Mroza.
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said: “He informed us yesterday (Wednesday). It’ sa matter beyond anyone’s control. I would never be here at work myself if my child was sick. Him informing us on time was giving us some time to replace him as a performer at the awards. So there is nothing we can do but wish the child well.”
“It is frustrating to watch a child that ill