South African musician and actress Winnie Khumalo has died at the age of 51. Khumalo died on Tuesday at her home after a short illness.
Media personality, Sabelo “Ntombeningi” Sithole was one of the first few people to be contacted by Rethabile Khumalo, Winnie’s daughter.
“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,” said Sithole
He said he last spoke to Winnie on Monday, January 6 2025.
“I knew she was not fine, but I did not know she would come to this,” he said.
Khumalo first rose to fame as a teenager, having been introduced to the music industry by the late Brenda Fassie. The family later confirmed Khumalo’s passing.
The Soweto-born singer worked for Fassie as a backing singer. At the age of 15, she released the album Hey Laitie, Tshina Tshina (produced by Sello Chicco Twala).
It was followed by an album titled Dlamini, also in the 1980s. She also recorded a gospel album titled Izono Zami in the 1990s, produced by Pastor Langa Dube.
Khumalo also had small roles in the SABC series Muvhango and Mponeng, in which she played a sangoma. She was also in a stage play titled The Journey.
After a break from live performance and recording, Khumalo returned in 2008. She released a mature album titled I Just Wanna Live My Life. And it was produced and distributed by Kalawa Jazzmee Record’s Oscar “Oskido” Mdlongwa.
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