She accomplished one of the bucket list projects - to get into a studio and create music. But even she didn't know how much love it will get across the country.
Now musician and pensioner Gee Six Five has died, just weeks after finding fame.
Her death was announced by her niece Sbu Mpongoshe on Twitter.
My beloved aunt, MumNcane who many of you know as #GeeSixFive is no more. She displayed leadership throughout her life, was the epitome of fearlessness & inspired many with her single #ObaniLababantu.
— Sbu Mpungose (@SbuMpungose) December 9, 2020
Mthiya, Shandu kaNdaba, Sontshikazi. #RIPGeeSixFive pic.twitter.com/NAOHlWlsIp
Her family confirmed it in a statement.
"It is with sadness that the Selepe and Mbatha family announce the passion of their beloved mother, sister, aunt and grandmother Mrs ON Selepe.
"South Africans were introduced to her as the musician Gee Six Five who penned and performed the hit song, Obani Lababantu.
"Mrs Selepe pass away in Durban where she had been self-isolating under the watch of family after receiving a positive diagnosis for Covid-19."
The family said her love of music began while she was at a teachers' college and she became a highly decorated choir conductor. She had also produced a music album for children's nursery rhymes in isiZulu.
Olpha Selepe (65) was born in Shongwe in Kwazulu Natal but lived with her family in Emadadeni in Newcastle.
Selepe retired as a teacher in March and started working on her hit single in July. The song has since set social media ablaze and has been turned into hilarious memes on Twitter.
Olpha was also working on being a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) student in higher education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and her next goal was to complete her qualification.
Condolences quickly flooded social media on Wednesday, with celebrities and fans expressing their shock at the death of their newly found favourite.
We are saddened by the passing of Obani Labantu hitmaker Olpha Selepe, #geesixfive, who defied the odds and reminded us that music is ageless.
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) December 9, 2020
Thank you for putting smiles on our faces and reminding us that we can still achieve what we put our minds to. #RIPGeeSixFive pic.twitter.com/qaGRpHzmLF
#RIPGeeSixFive
— Tumi Sole (@tumisole) December 9, 2020
Condolences to the families and friends.
Robala ka Kagiso. pic.twitter.com/0fQo7dgFDe
Rest In Peace ????????
— Duduzane Zuma (@Duduzane_Zuma_) December 9, 2020
Olpha Selepe (65)
Retired as a teacher in March
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) student in higher education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
A hit song maker.#RIPGeeSixFive pic.twitter.com/lgEQBsg0nZ
In an interview with Drum just a few weeks ago, the viral Six Gee Five told us she had no plans of being a musician past her 65th birthday, hence her name.
She had started the journey because she wanted to make sure older people understood that dreams can still be fulfilled, even at an older age.
