By Dylan Bettencourt
- Singer Winnie Khumalo, who started her career with Brenda Fassie, died at her Joburg home after a short illness.
- The star leaves behind her daughter Rethabile, who followed in her footsteps as a singer.
South African singer Winnie Khumalo has died at her home at the age of 51.
Her daughter Rethabile called close family friend Sabelo Sithole on Tuesday with the sad news, Sunday World reported.
“I was contacted by Rethabile, and I could hear from her voice that she was not okay. She asked me to rush to her mother’s house because Winnie was not moving. I rushed there and unfortunately, it was too late. I am distraught and I have lost a friend,” Sithole said.
He spoke to Winnie on Monday. “I knew she was not fine, but I did not know she would come to this,” he said.
Winnie started singing as a teenager after the late Brenda Fassie took her under her wing. She became one of Fassie’s backing singers.
Just two months ago, in November, Winnie went to hospital in Joburg because she couldn’t breathe properly. Doctors told her she had asthma.
“I didn’t know that I had asthma until I had shortness of breath. I was so confused,” she said at the time. “I have never heard of anyone being diagnosed with asthma at this age. But the doctors have told me it’s still in the early stages. They said I need to manage it well and just take care of myself.”
Winnie battled other health problems too. She had diabetes and needed a wheelchair for weeks in 2017 after a back operation. But she stayed strong through it all.
“I am a fighter, everyone knows. Many of my peers have passed on. But I want to see my grandchildren grow old, so I pray for a long life,” she said.
Her music career started at 15 when she released her first album Hey Laitie, Tshina Tshina. Producer Sello “Chicco” Twala worked with her on the album.
Besides singing, Winnie acted in TV shows like Muvhango and Mponeng, where she played a sangoma.
In 2008, she made a comeback with her album I Just Wanna Live My Life. The album did well, being nominated for awards at Channel O and the South African Music Awards.
Her daughter Rethabile followed her into music. In August last year, Rethabile fell ill after someone allegedly poisoned her.
“She was poisoned by a friend. She was in and out of the hospital but thank God she recovered. Rethabile has a small baby and had to fight,” Winnie said then.
Pictured above: Winnie Khumalo.
Source: X
