Popular Ukhozi FM presenter, who is also the founder of the Crown Gospel Music Awards, Zanele Mbokazi, has died.
She was 51.
Zanele succumbed to lung cancer earlier this morning.
Her husband, Bishop Mpendulo Nkambule, confirmed in a statement online:
“It is with a heavy heart that we, the Nkambule and Mbokazi families, announce the passing of our dearly beloved Ms Zanele Mbokazi-Nkambule, founder of Crown Gospel Music Awards & Ukhozi FM radio personality. She departed to be with the Lord early hours of 12 August 2024 at Parklands Hospital.
“We are grateful for all the prayers, love and support we received throughout her illness. The family would appreciate privacy as we navigate through this challenging time.”
Her Battle With Lung Cancer
Towards the end of April 2024, Zanele suddenly fell sick and lost her voice while she was live on Ukhozi FM. Fellow host Thokozani MaMkhize Ndlovu stood in for her after she was immediately rushed to hospital. She spent a week under observation.
Her husband later revealed in a radio interview that Zanele had been diagnosed with lung cancer:
“We thank God for all the prayers from Ukhozi FM listeners. We wanna say, let us not speculate. Fifteen days ago, Zanele fell ill and even on the following Sunday during her show, she lost her voice. Then [last Monday], we took her to hospital. She was taken to the theatre for checkups. It was discovered that she was suffering from lung cancer.”
ALSO READ: Ukhozi FM Presenter Zanele Mbokazi Diagnosed With Lung Cancer
The Last Message Zanele Mbokazi Shared Online
The radio presenter’s condition was getting bad so much that the Crown Gospel Music Awards, which she founded, hung in the balance. Just this morning, Sunday World reported that Zanele’s team said the awards would go on in November as the radio presenter trained them to organise the show.
However, the lung cancer deteriorated, and Zanele was slowly losing hope. In her last Facebook post from 26 July, the radio presenter wailed:
“LET ME CONFESS. Let’s get real for a moment! I have encouraged people all my life, and my trust in God is unshakable. It is hard to encourage yourself! 😭 There are days when you just want to say, I am tired! Days when you don’t even want to take your medication! Days when messages from loved ones ‘ how are you today’ ‘ uzoba right’ just irritate you.
“Days when you ask so many questions. Days when you feel ‘nobody understands what you are going through’. Thank God for professional and spiritual help. Please, if you experience the above, seek help. It is okey to be not okey! Kunzima. Soyixoxa sesiwelile! #WeShallOvercome
#onedayatatime”