Sandile Ngwenya, known to millions of music fans as Mapaputsi, is the kwaito legend who has been single-handedly credited with keeping the the genre’s music culture together.
It is reported that the man behind the hit song Izinja died on Thursday. However, his death was only revealed to his fans on Friday morning.
In an official statement released shortly after his passing to unknown an illness, the family confirmed that the ragga inspired hitmaker with a gravel voice had died due to an undisclosed illness.
"The family of the South African kwaito legend Sandile Ngwenya, popularly know as Mapaputsi, are saddened to confirm to the media and public the passing of their son Mapaputsi," the statement said.
"Mapaputsi met his untimely death in the late hours of Thursday, September 5, 2024, after a short illness."
The music industry which has suffered many similar losses in recent months has reacted to the contribution made by the Zola born kwaito legend, with Arthur Mafokate and chairperson of the Creative Cultural Industry Federation of South Africa (CCIFSA) saying Mapaputsi contributed greatly to the evolution of the kwaito sound.
“Mapaputsi made sure the kwaito culture stays strong with all the timeless hits and Kwaito style he brought to the scene which set the scene alight and challenged all the big guys at the time.
“Judging by the shock his death has sent all over the country, one can easily determine his big impact in the industry.
“Last year I promised to get him honoured this year, but unfortunately this was not possible,” Mafokate said.
On the issue of artists being failed by the system, Mafokate, who is also a celebrated kwaito legend, had this to say: “Yes, we continually fail artists like him and it is getting worse with the government refusing to fund projects geared towards helping such legends as we were forced to can our flagship project titled, ‘A Night with Legends’ as respective departments and entities in various provinces rejected our proposals.”
Music industry activist, Tebogo Sithathu, told The Star that more needs to be done to ensure artists are taken care of.
“Without a doubt, we have failed him, just as we as a nation, have failed many others before him.
“We unashamedly continue to date to fail our creative industry. His contribution to the industry and to kwaito and the broader sector was immense, but unfortunately never underscored,” he said.
Fellow Kwaito artist and friend, Sbu Ntshangase, also known as Sbu Malawyer, said it was sad to have lost a close friend.
“It is so sad. I am short of words because we are losing our legends. It is really sad that now Kwaito is literally dying because who will get on stage now to perform his song Izinja Zam. It is the same as when Magesh and Mageu left us,” he said.
The Star