Mourners gather under rainy sky for #SfisoNcwaneFuneral

Picture: Siphelele Buthelezi/ Sunday Tribune

Picture: Siphelele Buthelezi/ Sunday Tribune

Published Dec 10, 2016

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Durban – Thousands of mourners gathered at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban under a gloomy and rainy sky on Saturday to bid farewell to gospel star Sfiso Ncwane who succumbed to kidney failure at he age of 37 earlier this week.

Ncwane’s wife Ayanda was by his side at the Fourways Life Hospital in Johannesburg when he died on Monday. He had been taken to hospital the previous night.

Two memorial services have been held for Ncwane – one in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal at the eThekwini Christian Church on Thursday and another at the Grace Bible Church in Soweto, Johannesburg, on Friday.

African National Congress treasurer general Zweli Mkhizwe and ANC KwaZulu-Natal chairman Sihle Zikalala were among the pallbearers who carried Ncwane’s white casket to the stadium on Saturday. Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa and various KwaZulu-Natal MECs were also among those present.

Ncwane’s mother was helped into the family’s gazebo while his famous song “Kulungile Baba” played in the background. Radio presenters Dudu Khoza and Linda Sibiya were programme directors. 

Gospel artist Sipho Makhabane sings before he speaks on behalf of the artists #SfisoNcwanefuneral @SundayTribuneSA pic.twitter.com/FFp2ZsVDzX

— Siphelele Buthelezi (@SpheleleB) December 10, 2016

Mourners at the stadium #SfisoNcwanefuneral @SundayTribuneSA pic.twitter.com/n0jLZ3SA94

— Siphelele Buthelezi (@SpheleleB) December 10, 2016

Ngubane says he couldn't believe it when they told him Sifiso has died#SifisoNcwanefuneral @SundayTribuneSA pic.twitter.com/JghzEqJIy4

— Siphelele Buthelezi (@SpheleleB) December 10, 2016

eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede welcomed the mourners and expressed her condolences to the Ncwane family, saying her heart was broken by his death. Gumede acknowledged Ncwane’s initiatives to uplift his community and help the needy, saying that “God had only borrowed him to us”.

Ncwane was revered in the industry and was famous for hits such as “Phakama Nkosi yeZulu”. But his biggest hit was “Kulungile Baba” which went multi-platinum and sold more than 350 000 copies, was nominated for Crown Awards Song of the Year, and won the South African Music Awards Record of the Year in 2013, the first ever for a gospel artist.

Ncwane will be buried at Heroes Acre in Chesterville‚ Durban, later on Saturday. He is survived by his wife and their two children Ngcweti and Umawenzokuhle, as well as three children from a previous relationship, including a daughter Nqobile.

African News Agency

DURBAN, December 10 (ANA) – Thousands of mourners gathered at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban under a gloomy and rainy sky on Saturday to bid farewell to gospel star Sfiso Ncwanethe who succumbed to kidney failure at he age of 37 earlier this week.

Ncwane’s wife Ayanda was by his side at the Fourways Life Hospital in Johannesburg when he died on Monday. He had been taken to hospital the previous night.

Two memorial services have been held for Ncwane – one in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal at the eThekwini Christian Church on Thursday and another at the Grace Bible Church in Soweto, Johannesburg, on Friday.

African National Congress treasurer general Zweli Mkhizwe and ANC KwaZulu-Natal chairman Sihle Zikalala were among the pallbearers who carried Ncwane’s white casket to the stadium on Saturday. Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa and various KwaZulu-Natal MECs were also among those present.

Ncwane’s mother was helped into the family’s gazebo while his famous song “Kulungile Baba” played in the background. Radio presenters Dudu Khoza and Linda Sibiya were programme directors. eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede welcomed the mourners and expressed her condolences to the Ncwane family, saying her heart was broken by his death. Gumede acknowledged Ncwane’s initiatives to uplift his community and help the needy, saying that “God had only borrowed him to us”.

Ncwane was revered in the industry and was famous for hits such as “Phakama Nkosi yeZulu”. But his biggest hit was “Kulungile Baba” which went multi-platinum and sold more than 350,000 copies, was nominated for Crown Awards Song of the Year, and won the South African Music Awards Record of the Year in 2013, the first ever for a gospel artist.

Ncwane will be buried at Heroes Acre in Chesterville‚ Durban, later on Saturday. He is survived by his wife and their two children Ngcweti and Umawenzokuhle, as well as three children from a previous relationship, including a daughter Nqobile.

– African News Agency (ANA)

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