Brenda Fassie 'snubbed'
2006-06-12 11:09
Cape Town - To millions, she was the undisputed Queen of Afro-Pop, but on Saturday only a handful of people turned up at the unveiling of Brenda Fassie's tombstone in Langa outside Cape Town.
There was high drama at her graveside when two VIPs "expected" at the unveiling - President Thabo Mbeki and Nelson Mandela - and Fassie's only child, Bongani, were nowhere to be seen.
Bongani arrived late after key proceedings. He said on Saturday he and his manager, Lance Stehr, had only got air tickets the morning before "for the earliest flight".
"It's a very long story, but I do not want to fight with my family in the newspapers.
"The truth is I was never informed about what was going on. I had to be the one going to people to ask questions and it's been difficult," he said.
A source claimed Bongani was being shut out of his mother's life and had been deliberately sidelined from the unveiling ceremony. He had been promised an air ticket and accommodation, but this had never materialised and he had to find his own way to Cape Town.
Mandela, Mbeki not there
A statement issued by United Legal Services, the company that sponsored the tombstone, had indicated that Mandela and Mbeki would be there.
But Mbeki is on an imbizo in the Western Cape and Mandela was at the Johannesburg home of late business mogul Eric Molobi to pay his respects.
Instead wreaths, purported to be from the two famous politicians, were laid at the graveside.
Mbeki's spokesperson, Malerato Sekha, said she was not aware that the president had been invited to the event or if his office had sent any flowers.
Mandela's spokesperson, Zelda le Grange, could not be reached for comment.
Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille had apparently also been invited, but like many other VIPs did not arrive. Her spokesperson Robert MacDonald said she was invited but could not attend due to a busy schedule.
Themba Fassie, Brenda's sibling, blamed Bongani for the late arrival. He lambasted the many people he claimed wanted to "sabotage" the unveiling.
He said Bongani should have been at the family home at least a week in advance, but had chosen to fly to Cape Town on the day of the event. He said an application to erect a memorial site for Fassie at the family's Langa home was tied up in red tape.
Orrack Chabangu, managing director of CCP Records, Brenda Fassie's record company, said although her estate received royalties from her record sales, the company had no interest in its management even though it had contributed to the unveiling of the tombstone.
"We did our part, we contributed over R40 000 for this event, her family should take over her legacy," he said.
The tombstone, reportedly costing R25 000, is located at the spot where the ashes of Fassie's parents were scattered.