No life cover for Mabrrr

2004-07-03 12:01

Pretoria - Pop diva Brenda Fassie's applications for life insurance were turned down by insurance companies who cited her torrid lifestyle of crack cocaine and alcohol abuse for the refusal, Pretoria News reported on Saturday.

Fassie, who fell into a coma after an asthma attack, died in May after her life support machines were turned off.

Her record company said the lifestyle of the South Africa music star had been "too high risk" for insurance companies.

This week rumours abounded about the possible contents of the finalised autopsy report which is to form part of the inquest into Mabrrr's death.

The paper said there was increasing speculation that Fassie had been terminally ill and that a family member was trying to sell the autopsy report to the media.

Although it is expected that Fassie's music will sell even better because of her death, her family have been left virtually destitute, although it is expected that some of the royalties will accrue to her son, Bongani.

Lesley Sedibe, the head of corporate affairs of Fassie's record company, EMI, said it had been "difficult" going when they tried to assist Fassie a few years ago with securing insurance on her life.

"This was because of her history of substance abuse. Her life was not insured, because she was considered too high a risk".

Sedibe said they had tried both locally and overseas to secure life insurance for Fassie, but that insurers would not budge.

Speculation had been rife that Fassie had been indulging in drugs at the time of her collapse.

- News24