TOP BILLING ’ S SIMBA DIES
TV presenter, model and MC Simba Mhere passed away in Joburg yesterday.
The Zimbabwean-born presenter died in a car accident on the N3 highway outside the OR Tambo International Airport in the early hours of the morning.
The Top Billing presenter was on his way to the airport to catch his flight to Cape Town, where he was to attend the J&B Met event.
His management company, Styling Concepts, confirmed his tragic death in a statement.
“His father and a friend accompanied Simba, who was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident. His father luckily escaped unharmed, but both Simba and his friend [to be named at a later stage] were killed upon impact as another vehicle collided with theirs…”
Basetsana Kumalo, owner of Tswelopele Productions, which produces Top Billing, was in shock and sobbing when Sunday World contacted her. “I cannot speak right now. I’m hurting,” she said.
To honour Mhere, Top Billing aired his journey from the time he auditioned to host the show, to his latest work.
Mhere’s death was trending worldwide on Twitter yesterday under the hashtag #RIPSsimba.
Meanwhile, Jacky Lehlake, known to music lovers as Bojo Mujo, died in Pretoria yesterday after a short illness. He is survived by his son Koketso.