Malinga’s tombstone to be redesigned after resistance
ROBBIE Malinga’s seven-ton statue tombstone is 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-size tombstone along with replica awards Malinga scooped in his music career of 20 years was unveiled at Johannesburg’s Westpark Cemetery‚ where the star was laid to rest on Tuesday.
Bataung Memorials chief executive Lebohang Khitsane said yesterday a choice had been made to go back to the drawing board‚ after the negative feedback on social media.
“We have seen the feedback on social media and have decided to remove the tombstone and redesign it based on that,” Khitsane said.
“People have pointed out that the features on the statue do not resemble Robbie 100%.”
Khitsane said he made the decision because, as a firm, Bataung Memorials prided itself on shocking the industry with unique tombstones.
“I always say‚ we never fail‚ we learn. Whether the feedback is good or bad‚ you have to learn from it.
“So we will go back to the drawing board and take it to the next level.”
Khitsane said the tombstone’s design was inspired by the award-winning life Malinga had lived and the impact he had on the music industry.
His team would be working closely with the Malinga family on the redesign‚ which will be unveiled on January 23. Khitsane said it had taken 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 people’s 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] 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.