Kwaito group - Go Boyz - member dies

A member of kwaito group Go Boyz, Mduduzi Tshabalala, who passed away in South Africa last week after a short illness, was laid to rest at West Park Cemetery in Bulawayo on Saturday.

The 35-year-old artiste was based in South Africa where he was working on a number of projects. He died on Monday last week at Johannesburg's Donald Gordon Hospital after succumbing to a cancerous disease called Lupus.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy tissue. This results in symptoms such as inflammation, swelling, and damage to joints, skin, kidneys, blood, the heart, and lungs.

Tshabalala's body was ferried from South Africa last week on Friday for Saturday's burial. He died on his 35th birthday.

The funeral was attended by various artistes and a number of church members who bid the former producer farewell.

In an interview, Mthokosizi Tshabalala, brother to the late kwaito star, said the Tshabalala family had been robbed of one of its brightest stars.

"As a family we feel robbed of a family member whose life did not just revolve around his musical career.

"Mduduzi was a multi-talented young man occupied by several projects on his hands and this made him the brightest star in the family," Mthokozisi said.

Mthokozisi also said the late Tshabalala was also a financial director.

"When people think of him, they focus a lot on his musical career but for those who were closer to him, they are aware of other projects Mduduzi was working on.

"He was a financial director at Lenong Group of Companies in South Africa. He was running a company that specialised in helping other business partners start their own businesses," Mthokozisi said.

Jane Tshabalala, mother to the late Tshabalala, said her son was a religious person who always prioritised going to church.

"My son was a church going person who was groomed in the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa.

"His going to South Africa never altered his faith as he went on to attend the General Foundation Apostolic Church," said Tshabalala.

The late Tshabalala was also working on reviving the once popular Bulawayo group Go Boyz, Mthokozisi said.

"My late brother was working on re-igniting Go Boyz and he was working on an album set to be released this year," he said.

The late kwaito star was also working on forming a Bulawayo-based recording house and the artiste was seeking the right marketing partners to work with.

He also worked with Amagangsters, Biblos, producing music and DVDs for popular street theatre actors Omkhula who are now based in Cape Town and was co-operating with Achuzi.

Mthokozisi also thanked the late Tshabalala's friend Unity "Achuzi" Moyo for letting people know about the sad news.

"I was amazed by how social networks were helpful in informing South Africa-based friends and family about the sad news.

"In a short period of time over a hundred people from producers to directors, had responded to his death and some even made it to North Riding where Mduduzi was now based.

Benjamin Tshabalala, father to the late artiste, said he was overwhelmed by the response he got from everyone who stuck with the family after his son's untimely death.

"Words cannot express the love and support the Tshabalala family got from many people in and outside the country," he said.

Echoing the same sentiments was Tshabalala's mother who said the love she got not only from family, friends and relatives was tremendous.

"May the Lord bless everyone who stood by us in such a time when we needed their love and support the most.

"The Tshabalala family expresses its heartfelt gratitude to church members, various musicians, performing groups and those who assisted in every way possible," she said.

The late Tshabalala was nurtured and groomed by Nkululeko Dube's Iyasa dating back to his high school days at Mpopoma High School.

Nkululeko Dube commented on his status while in Vietnam about the sad news.

"Tshabalala was a humble artiste who despite the achievements remained a humble person all the time," he said last week.

Local DJ Mellow T said he knew Mduduzi on a personal level and that he was the sort of person one could always work with.

Go Boyz group made waves at the turn of the millennium.  The group's kwaito music was influential as they collaborated with the likes of Achuzi, GTI and Amagangsters.

Tshabalala is survived by his wife Siduduzile Moyo and two children, Mduduzi Jnr and Sibusiso.