TRIBUTES continue to pour in for the late legendary boxer, Dingaan "Rose of Soweto" Thobela.
The 57-year-old from Soweto was found dead in his Joburg flat on Monday, 29 April. According to reports, he had been battling illness for some time.
Dingaan's childhood friend and family spokesman, Eddie Mutungutungu, told Daily Sun he still can't believe that his friend is no more. He said they went to primary and high school together.
"We did everything together. I lost a good friend who was everything to me and we did a lot as family and friends. We are at the government mortuary as we speak. We are here to identify the body with the family and just waiting for the postmortem team," he said.
ALSO READ | Gospel star: I was almost dead!
Eddie said they'll update people about the memorial service and funeral after they have met with everyone.
Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Zizi Kodwa said he was saddened by Dingaan's death.
"I express my deepest sympathies to the Thobela family and the South African boxing fraternity. I join millions in mourning the passing of the Rose of Soweto," he said.
Jodi Solomon, professional boxing trainer and manager and co-founder of Roy Jones Jr and Jodi Solomon Boxing, said she was devastated after hearing the news of Dingaan's passing.
"I looked up to Dingaan as one of our boxing legends and as a genuinely lovely human being. I'm completely shocked at his passing and my condolences and thoughts go out to his family," she said.
The EFF also extended their condolences. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of this legend. Rest in revolutionary peace, Rose of Soweto," the party wrote.
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said he was very saddened to hear of Dingaan's death.
"At the height of Thobela’s boxing career in the 1990s, I had the honour of contributing to the SABC's live broadcast of his major fights. He showed the world our sporting excellence at a time of immense political change in the country," he said.
Dingaan won the hearts of many people between 1990 and 2006, becoming world champion in two weight classes, holding the WBO lightweight title from 1990 to 1992, the WBA lightweight title in 1993, and the WBC super-middleweight title in 2000.
