Lebo 'belonged on red carpet'

2006-10-26 19:07

Johannesburg - Lebo Mathosa, the Kwaito singer who was killed in an accident this week, was a professional who was born to be a star, said mourners who paid tribute at a memorial service in Johannesburg on Thursday.

Nicole Fox, a disc jockey on 5FM, said that although she had worked with Lebo for only a short while she saw the professionalism and integrity shine through.

An emotional Fox said: "She looked like she belonged on the red carpet. South Africa loved her music."

The crowd smiled in agreement with Fox's observation, while some clung to husbands, brothers and friends for emotional support.

Many who paid tribute to Lebo choked back tears at the podium.

Some sang powerful hymns with quivering voices while others spoke about Lebo's life off stage.

But the tearful recollection of the star's life, did not prevent anecdotes which earned her the title of "drama queen".

Lebo's friend, Oscar, of the Kalawa-Jazmaee group said that once Lebo had prevented his arrest.

She talked their heads off

Oscar said he had been arrested, but Lebo was defiant with the police.

"Eventually, they let us go because Lebo talked their heads off."

Programme director Greg Maloka, recalled how he met Lebo in Sunninghill and how he formed a friendship with her.

He said: "We all gather when God takes away what He gives, but we don't gather when He gives."

But, while many grieved the loss of 29-year-old Lebo, a family spokesperson shed more light on the Mathosa family's woes.

"In September, Lebo faced the death of her father and when her uncle heard that she had died, the pain was too much and he, too, died," said a spokesperson for the family.

Mathosa's mother, Nomvula Magdalene Mathosa, told her family pastor that "she had to respect God's will and that she would deal with her loss with God's grace".

According to the family, Jared Mathosa (Lebo's father) died of diabetes in September. He was 75-years-old.

Meanwhile a call for South Africa to stop labelling the 20-year-old man who was driving Lebo on the night of the accident as her "killer" was met with approval.

"Let's forgive the man they call the driver," said Mandla Spikiri - a member of the group Trompies - in his tribute.

"There is no pain like the pain of self-condemnation," he continued.

Crashed into a tree

The man identified as "Nhlanhla" by The Sowetan newspaper was not present at the service.

It was reported that he lost control of a Toyota Prado on the N3 Highway near Germiston and crashed into a tree.

The man was uninjured, but Lebo had internal injuries and died at the accident.

She will be buried on Saturday.

SAPA