Music industry loses brightest star
BORN: April 21 1979
DIED: December 5 2016
FUNERAL: December 10 2016
BURIAL: Heroes Acre Cemetery in Chesterville, Durban
THE local gospel music industry has expressed sadness at the loss of icon S’fiso Ncwane, who died in Johannesburg this week.
According to spokesman for the Ncwane family Mhlo Gumede, the singer died of kidney failure on Monday morning.
In a memorial service held in Durban yesterday, colleagues remembered some of Ncwane’s biggest milestones in his music career.
Words could not describe how his departure has affected those he left behind – his family and supporters. Sipho “The Big Fish” Makhabane, who has worked with Ncwane since 2011, asked for prayers for the family.
“I still cannot believe S’fiso is no more. This year, we were together in Secunda at the Mpumalanga Praise Tour, and he was part of the support in the youth auditions I held for the whole province,” said Makhabane. “We have lost a legend.” Makhabane’s sentiments were echoed by KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu, who visited the family of the late music maestro in Mthwalume, on the south coast, on Wednesday to deliver messages of condolences.
Mchunu remarked: “We bow our heads in honour of this young and committed son of this province.
“KwaZulu-Natal has been blessed with a rare breed of musicians too many to mention.
“S’fiso represented a new generation of gospel singers that carried the aspirations and hopes of many of our people, especially our youth.”
The gospel star died on Monday morning after he had been admitted to Fourways Life Hospital where he was diagnosed with kidney failure, and was later moved to the ICU.
Ncwane, who was born in Mthwalume on April 21 1979, started singing at a tender age of eight.
He recorded his first professional album, which was produced by Tshepo Nzimande, with Bula Music.
He featured the late legendary Vuyo Mokoena and Zodwa Twecu on his album Inombolo Yasezulwini.
He released another album with EMI Records, titled Baba Ngyavuma. He is the first gospel musician to perform on SABC1 Live Amp, a secular music show.
In 2013 he scooped the Record of the Year award at the South African Music Awards with his huge hit Kulungile
Baba, which went multi-platinum in just 16 months.
The song also earned recognition in international awards, notably the London-based Africa Gospel Music Awards.
Last year, Ncwane made headlines by buying his pastor, Reverend Francis Anosike, an AMG Mercedes-Benz GL 63 V8 valued at R1.9-million. He explained that the pastor had saved his life through prayer, and that he wanted to show his appreciation.
Colleagues described him as a committed Christian. Last year, Drum magazine reported that Ncwane had clashed with his mother over his beliefs. The rift was caused by the fact that his mother consulted traditional diviners.
He told Drum magazine: “Kunemikhovu lapha (There are zombies around my mother’s house). This is the reason why I decided to stop going home and to also not send my wife and kids there just in case they get sick.
“My mother is fighting with me because she wants me to consult traditional doctors, but I don’t go to sangomas or inyangas.”
He and his manager wife Ayanda Ncwane were blessed with two children, Ngcweti and Umawenzokuhle.
There were, however, three other children from previous relationships.
Another memorial service will take place at Grace Bible Church in Soweto today, starting at 11am.
The funeral service tomorrow will be held at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban from 9am.
Ncwane will be buried at Heroes Acre Cemetery in Chesterville, Durban.