By Sylvester Haskins and Mojalefa Mashego
Forget about the gloom around her life. The pop diva still has the fans stomping to an uplifting beat.
Brenda Fassie has once more proved her popularity despite the many setbacks in a career spanning well over two decades.
On Thursday she received three nominations for the South African Music Awards (Sama) - the country's most prestigious awards.
Speaking from Sunninghill Hospital in Sandton, where Fassie was in a coma, her producer, Sello "Chicco" Twala, said: "This is uplifting news. It could not have come at a better time for her family, fans and career during this difficult time. It is just a pity that she cannot share the joy with us."
Fassie's best-selling album Vulindlela won her the nomination in the Song Of The Decade category.
She has also been nominated in the Artist of the Year and Song of the Year categories ahead of favourites such as Bongo Maffin and Brothers of Peace - the two current movers and shakers on the South African music scene.
Twala produced Fassie's last five albums, including Vulindlela, which has all-time record sales estimated at more than a half-a-million copies.
In the special category introduced to celebrate Sama's 10th anniversary and to honour the best musicians of the decade, Fassie was nominated along with outstanding artists such as Mafikizolo, Arthur Mafokate, Mandoza and TKZee.
Twala said Fassie's condition remained unchanged. He thanked the public and Fassie's fans for their reaction to a call to help raise funds via a prayer line established on Monday.