Cape Town - The late kwaito legend, Mandoza, real name Mduduzi Tshabalala, is giving cancer patients a ray of hope from beyond the grave. The Mandoza Foundation in partnership with a nonprofit organisation, The Hand Out Foundation, recently raised funds for cancer patients at Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in Johannesburg.
GALA DINNER WITH STARS
Mandoza’s widow, Mpho Tshabalala, who heads the Mandoza Foundation and Tshepi Nthinya, the CEO of the Hand Out Foundation, joined forces to bring Soweto residents together with a number of kwaito stars, DJs and business people in honour of Mandoza’s legacy. The gala dinner, which was held at the Soweto Theatre in Jabulani recently, marked the second anniversary of Mandoza’s passing which also coincides with Mpho’s birthday. Kwaito stars such as Mapaputsi, Mshoza, Eugene ‘Donald Duck’ Mthethwa, Skhokho and Tumi of GP Gangsta alongside Heavy K, Skeem Saam actress, Makgofe Moagi, Gauteng MEC for Arts and Culture, Faith Mazibuko, Mandoza’s longtime producer, Gabi le Roux and Kabelo Mabalane were in the mix.
ALSO READ: Mandoza's widow Mpho Tshabalala talks about her first year without him
A HELPING HAND
The aim of the gala dinner was to raise funds for cancer patients and close to R100 000 was raised on the night. Mpho says that it has been Mandoza’s mission to lend a helping hand to the needy and he had been doing that for years, so she decided to keep the legacy of the Nkalakatha hit-maker alive. “This is one of the worthy causes he used to love as he was a giver. I wanted to spend my birthday celebrating my late husband’s life with the people he loved as he was born and bred in Soweto,” she says. Mandoza died on 18 September 2016 after he lost his battle with cancer which had also affected his eye-sight.
UNVEILING OF HIS STATUE
During the proceedings, Mandoza’s statue was also unveiled at the state of art Soweto Theatre, where MEC Mazibuko spoke about how artists should be honoured for their craft. Tshepi says Mandoza’s statue “symbolises his origins, and where it was unveiled is right in Soweto, where he found inspiration to be what he was.” Mpho adds, “I am grateful that his statue was unveiled at the Soweto Theatre, which is a sign that he was a true Soweto boy.”
ALSO READ: Remembering Mandoza: 5 of his greatest hits
