Celebrate Life – Celebs On Their Doting Fathers
Four father-daughter pairs reflect on their relationships and fondest memories
MUSICIAN, BATHABISE ‘THABSIE’ VOKWANA AND HER DAD, MIKE BIYELA Bathabise on her dad
Biggest lesson dad taught me… He always reminds me why humility is key. I love how wise he is. What I love about our relationship… My dad is the gentlest man I know. He goes to the ends of the world for those he loves. We get on so well, that there’s nothing I cannot share with him.
Fondest memory… Growing up, my dad taught my younger sister and I karate — he holds a black belt. He put us through some tough training but that, in turn, taught me the value of hard work and discipline.
Bab’ Biyela on his daughter
What I love the most about Thabsie…
Her humility and independence. She is very courageous and her love for us, her parents and family, is unmatched. I pray that she understands that life isn’t about getting even, but being wiser by finding a lesson in all situations. Fondest memory… It has to be her wedding day, and her own gospel composition, which she performed with her sisters — it was such a beautiful moment.
RADIO PERSONALITY, NTOMBEE NGCOBO MZOLO AND HER DAD, BHEKI ‘IHHASHI ELIMHLOPHE’ NGCOBO Ntombee on her dad
Biggest lesson dad taught me… That we’re greater than anything the world throws at us. My dad’s from a very poor background, and found himself working at the tender age of 10. He vowed to turn his situation around, and is now an internationally-acclaimed maskandi artist. He never let his circumstances define him — and that’s proof enough that I, too, can be anything.
What I love about our relationship is that… It’s an open one. My dad and I can talk about any and everything. He’s always honest with, and supports, me. Ours is more than just a father-daughter relationship — it’s beautiful and Godly.
Fondest memory…When he walked me down the aisle on my wedding day. Seeing him let go of me and hand me over to my husband, was a special moment in our relationship. I was only 24, but he understood that it was the right time for me. He went above and beyond to ensure I had the wedding of my dreams.
Bab’Ihhashi Elimhlophe on Ntombee
What I love about my daughter… Ntombee is kind and has a big heart — not just to us as her family, but to everyone, including strangers.
I want her to know that… There will be times when things go according to plan, and sometimes, the odds won’t be stacked in her favour. I want her to remember that the greatest darkness comes before dawn, and when the sun resufaces, it’ll be well worth it. So long as she works hard, and persists through the dark times, she will rejoice in the light. She must trust God and put Him first – He will always get her through whatever hardships.
HIP-HOP MUSO, GIGI LAMAYNE AND HER DAD, FORTUNE DAMBE Gigi on her dad
Biggest lesson dad taught me… I’ve learnt that a father isn’t necessarily only in the biological sense, but it’s someone who contributes to your daily growth. Even though Papa Fortune is my stepfather, that didn’t stop us from becoming super close. He’s protective, loving and hands-on. He’s always more than generous with advice when I need it.
What I love about our relationship… He’s easy-going and the love is real. I’m able to joke with him, and vice versa. He encourages me to be the best version of myself and believes in me — sometimes more than anyone else. There isn’t a day that goes by where he doesn’t preach self-love to me.
Fondest memory…Watching him beat dads, half his age, during a race at my niece’s pre-school. My mom and I cheered from across the field — it was such a proud moment for us. He is sporty and energetic, and always encourages a healthy lifestyle.
Bab’ Dambe on Gigi
What I treasure the most about Gigi… Her sense of humour. Even during trying times, like after her suicide attempt, she picked herself up and cracked jokes about the incident. She’s quick to recover from trying times, especially where it concerns her career. She’s smart, gentle, kind and very forgiving. I enjoy attending her gigs and watching her perform— even if it’s at odd hours. She’s very open with us as her parents, which, in turn, has made it easy for us to guide her along the road of life.
I want her to know that… All that’s good comes to those who wait. Sometimes, she shows signs of frustration when work slows down or things don’t go her way. She must continue working hard, despite the ups and downs, and things will eventually fall into place.
SPORTS PRESENTER AND COMMENTATOR, MPHO LETSHOLONYANE AND HER DAD, EDWARD MALETO Mpho on her dad
Biggest lesson dad taught me… My dad once told me that, “When a man doesn’t treat you well, don’t blame yourself. You can be the best woman under the sun, but if he’s not ready to see your greatness, there’s nothing you can do.” I’ll always be grateful for those words as they taught me to never value my self-worth based on how others treats me. What I love about our relationship…We’re now able to talk about everything. We went through a rough patch, where our relationship wasn’t the greatest, because of a clash in personalities. We’re too alike and, in some instances, unless we learnt to work together, we’d find ourselves working against each other. He’s now my go-to guy for guidance and love. Interestingly, our relationship is at its peak now that I’m married. My love for soccer is no secret, and with him being a huge football fanatic too, that’s been the glue that binds us.
Fondest memory… Attending a soccer match at a stadium with him when I was young or watching a game at home. I’m such a daddy’s girl — right down to my football-watching gestures, which I inherited from him [chuckles].
Ntate Maleto on his daughter
What I love the most about Mpho…Her determination and openness. She faces anything that comes her way headon, and is always prepared to consult when she isn’t certain about something.
My fondest memory of her… Us watching soccer together — I used to take her to watch Benoni United. As a child, she’d always ask me how far back my love for Kaizer Chiefs went. She was inquisitive about the penalty, offside and free kick rules, and she gradually became interested in soccer.