Remembering Brenda Fassie 13 years on
Star’s son now happy with his quiet family life
Bongani Fassie says his late mother Brenda Fassie’s estate court battle has been settled.
“Everything has been rounded up . I have been laying low and I don’t want to go around flashing money because it is my mother’s hardearned money and I don’t want to paint a bad picture of her,” Bongani said.
The 31-year-old music producer told Sowetan that his mother’s estate was worth more than R20-million and he has been receiving her royalties because her music has been enjoying airplay on the radio.
“How do you think I have been surviving?” he joked. “I don’t even have to do music because I feel like she has left such a strong legacy.”
Yesterday marked the 13th year since Brenda died and Bongani said he spent the day with his two children and the woman in his life.
“My children have saved me from a dark place I have been in since my mother’s passing. I slipped into depression a few years after her death and it only hit me then that I have not mourned my mother properly hence I was not okay.
“I got out of that place when my son Brenda was born five years ago. I’m a father of two with my youngest [being] eight months old and I’m very happy to be a part of my children’s life and be with their mother.”
Reflecting on his mother’s legacy, Bongani said he felt like Brenda was the chosen one.
“She was a very strong woman and to die during a month honouring mothers just shows she was the chosen one. I am very happy with the support we have received from other people and I know she was loved,” added Bongani, the subject of Brenda’s hit song My Baby Bongani, who is now a music producer.