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As the year comes to a close, City Press remembers these well-known individuals whose lives were cut short in 2023.
The deaths of South Africa's prominent figures left a gap in their respective spaces. The country mourned the loss of these influential individuals while noting the roles they played.
READ: Family confirms AKA's passing
South Africans will remember them through their work and the lives they have touched.
Here are some of the icons that Mzansi lost this year:
1. Vusi Ma R5 (30 January)
Itumeleng Mosoeu, who was famously known as Vusi ma R5, was a big name in Pretoria and the Barcadi space. He was gunned down at a pub in Soshanguve. The up-and-coming artist's death devastated people in Pretoria, as he was set to only grow in his respective genre.
2. Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes (10 February)
On that dreadful Friday evening, the country received the news of the death of AKA. He was gunned down at Wish restaurant in Durban at 11pm as he was leaving the establishment. Mzansi was shattered by the news, as his death came just days before the release of his much-anticipated album ‘Mass Country’.
3. Lentswe Bhengu-Mafoko (28 February)
Bhengu was a celebrity chef and media personality who featured in a number of shows, including Africa on a Plate, The Great South African Bake Off and Phat Joe’s Cheeky Palate. The celebrity chef also was a cookbook author. His family released a statement to confirm his passing and said it was after a 'short illness'.
4. Mark Pilgrim (5 March)
Pilgrim was one of the beloved media personalities who hosted different shows on television and radio. In February 2022, Pilgrim was again diagnosed with cancer after remission in 1988. This time, with stage 4 lung cancer. At his time of death, Pilgrim was at home with his fiancée, Adrienne, by his side.
5. Costa Titch (11 March)
The news of Costa’s death was very surprising because he was performing at the time of death at an event in Johannesburg. He collapsed and stood up and carried on performing, then fell to his death. Costa was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
6. Gloria Bosman (14 March)
The legendary jazz songstress opened the doors for many South African singers and was truly loved by her fans, locally and globally. Bosman died after a ‘short’ illness’, which was revealed by her family.
READ: Remembering Shona Ferguson two years after his death
7. Eusebius McKaiser (28 March)
The journalist was also a 702 presenter and political analyst who was famous for his work and strong opinion, which was backed up by facts. McKaiser had an undeniable effect in journalism. It was reported that McKaiser passed on after suffering a suspected epileptic seizure.
8. Alex “Gold Fingers” Shakoane (7 May)
Shakoane was the longest-serving public relations officer of the Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club and a staunch supporter of the team. He created the role of bringing together supporters on match days at stadiums. His cause of death is said to be a stroke.
9. Marietjie Bothma (29 May)
South Africans loved the actress as she was able to speak IsiZulu very fluently. Bothma gained popularity in an advert and made it to the television space where she made it to a Mzansi Magic soapie DiepCity last year. Her cause of death was revealed to be a short illness.
10. Patrick Ndlovu (30 May)
The actor was famously known for his role, Ntate Moloi, on Zone 14 in the early 2000s and had many roles in different shows, but his recent work was on Knuckle City. Ndlovu’s death resulted from natural causes.
11. Clive Barker (10 June)
Barker was one of the football giants in South Africa as he became a professional player 1960s, which was cut short by an injury. He became a coach in the 1970s of different clubs, from AmaZulu Football Club to Maritzburg United Football Club. He played an immense role in helping Bafana Bafana win in the 1996 African Cup of Nations final against Tunisia. This year, Barker was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia.
12. Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi (9 September)
Buthelezi was one of the icons of the Zulu Monarch as he was the grandchild of King Solomon, whose child was Princess Magogo. He was the traditional prime minister of the Zulu nation until his passing. Buthelezi also formed a political party, the Inkatha Freedom Party.
13. Zoleka Mandela (25 September)
Zoleka was the granddaughter of the first black president, Nelson Mandela, and freedom fighter, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. She was open about suffering from breast cancer, which later took her life. Among the people she did not want to attend her funeral included Mandla and Zinhle Mandela and Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo.
14. Lebohang Mpyana (2 November)
The budding actress was adored for the role of Khelina on the Mzansi Magic's DiepCity where South Africans got to know her. But Mpyana was already in the comedy space and known on Facebook and TikTok spaces. Her death came as a shock to many, as people could not believe it until her family confirmed the news, saying her cause of death was a short illness.
15. Bulelwa "Zahara" Mkutukana
The 'Loliwe' hitmaker gained popularity in 2011 after her album reached double platinum status a19 days after its release.
Zahara always said that she was a village girl and nothing would change that. She was loved by her fans and people related to her music.
Her hits "Ndiza" and "Destiny" arejust some of the few that saw rise to stardom, winning 17 SAMAs, 3 Metro Awards and a Nigeria Entertainment Award. Last month, she was admitted to a Johannesburg hospital as a result of liver complications, subsequently losing her life in December.
READ: Big Nuz member Mampintsha passes away
The legacies of these notables will forever live on and South Africans will miss them and how they affected many lives.
