Family feud: South African artiste Zahara fell sick on her wedding month
Zahara, the revered South African singer-songwriter born Bulelwa Mkutukana, has been battling illness for the past couple of weeks, stirring concern among fans and sparking controversy surrounding the circumstances of her health.
Earlier today, December 12, Arts and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa released a statement on the X platform announcing Zahara’s passing.
According to the statement, the acclaimed artist succumbed to her illness while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Johannesburg on Monday, December 11, just before 9 pm.
He remembered Zahara as having made an incredible and lasting impact on South African music.
“I am very saddened by the passing of @ZaharaSA. My deepest condolences to the Mkutukana family and the South African music industry. The government has been with the family for some time now. Zahara and her guitar made an incredible and lasting impact in South African music,” Minister Zizi Kodwa
Zahara, known for her soulful melodies, has left an indelible mark on the music industry.
Her fiancé, Mpho Xaba, reportedly stood by her bedside during her final moments.
Also read: RIP! Loliwe hitmaker Zahara, remembered as the girl next door, passes away
Amid the grief, various rumors and allegations surrounding Zahara’s demise have emerged online.
Some suggest she fell victim to bewitchment by family members, while others claim her death resulted from liver disease.
South African news outlets reported two weeks ago that Zahara was admitted with severe liver complications and might require a liver transplant.
A source quoted by South African media said: “Her liver was severely scarred.”
On another front, unverified claims suggest Zahara was poisoned by a close relative following lobola (dowry) negotiations, a traditional process leading to marriage.
“The lobola negotiations went well during the visit by the Xaba delegation. The family representing the Mkutukanas was happy that Zahara would finally get married to someone she loves dearly. But someone interfered with the whole process by bewitching her,” alleged a source. “We suspect that Zahara was either poisoned or muthi was put into her drink.”
Muthi is a term used in South Africa, particularly in Zulu and other Bantu languages, to refer to traditional medicine or traditional healing practices.
In various South African cultures, muthi encompasses a range of natural ingredients, such as plants, roots, animal parts, and minerals, believed to have medicinal or spiritual properties.
Traditional healers, known as sangomas or inyangas, often use muthi in their rituals and treatments to address physical, mental, or spiritual ailments.
Zahara, widely known for hits like ‘Loliwe,’ was engaged to Mpho Xaba, and they were set to marry in November after dating for six months.
The couple’s engagement came after Zahara’s previous engagement in 2019 to Ian Sibiya.
The details surrounding Zahara’s health and passing remain unclear, prompting fans and the public to await official statements from her family or representatives.