By Sihle Nzima
Media personality, entrepreneur and Crown Gospel Music Awards founder Zanele Mbokazi-Nkambule’s Special Provincial Official Category 2 funeral was a fitting send-off, where speaker after speaker paid tribute to her.
The funeral was held at Durban International Convention Centre at the weekend, before she was laid to rest in Mariannhill, near Pinetown.
Mbokazi-Nkambule, who had battled with lung cancer for three months, passed away at Parklands Hospital last week.
Colleagues, friends, family and supporters attending the funeral paid their respects about her exceptional life.
Among the mourners there were gospel singers, pastors, media personalities and government officials, with music performances from Benjamin Dube, Rebecca Malope, Dumi Mkokstad and others.
Mbokazi-Nkambule’s husband Bishop Mpendulo Nkambule wrote a tribute letter for his wife, which was read on his behalf. In part, it read: “Never did I (ever) imagine waking up without you by my side. I will miss you for a lifetime, my love. Rest now, rest in God’s presence my love.”
Nonjabulo Mdluli, Mbokazi-Nkambule’s niece whom she raised as her own child, expressed her heartbreak: “There was never a day (when) we (my brother and I) felt like we don’t have a mother. Even before our biological mother passed (away), she (my aunt) has always been our mother.”
About her close relationship with her aunt, she recalled that: “Mom (my aunt) worked very hard and was always travelling, but trusted me to take care of everything at home while she was away. I think she trained me for this day, but I was never ready.”
Ukhozi FM station manager and colleague Sbongi Ngcobo reminisced about some of the good moments she shared with Mbokazi-Nkambule.
“This past week has been both a blur and surreal to us. As Ukhozi FM, we have been dealt with a blow as we bid farewell to our third colleague in a period of nine months,” she said.
Ngcobo described Mbokazi-Nkambule as a loving and caring person. “We (have) lost a giant in our Ukhozi FM family. We have lost a sister whom we have always looked for comfort in trying times.”
