STOP killing people on social media!
This was the plea from kwaito star Mapaputsi.
He said this after news broke on Sunday, 25 July that legendary kwaito star, Zola 7, has died as a result of heart failure.
But Mapaputsi, real name Sandile Ngwenya, said this was fake news and reassured fans that Zola was alive.
He said he learnt about the fake death on Sunday night and made calls to verify it.
He found that Zola was okay.
“Death updates are very painful. It’s hard for family members to learn on social media that you have passed away. It’s traumatic, only to find they’re being traumatised for nothing,” said Mapaputsi.
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The kwaito star said he has also been killed before and knew what it felt like. The confusion surrounding Zola’s death came after a Facebook user named C’yabonga DJGusheshe Nkosi announced that the kwaito legend had died.
But he soon apologised and clarified that he got his facts wrong.
He wrote: “Guys, I would like to take this opportunity and apologise for a false update about Zola that he has passed away. Apparently, I got a false update from my phone and after posting that, I started getting insults. I don’t wish for anyone to die, so I apologise.”
Other social media users were also upset by the fake announcement and asked for people to stop ukuphapha (being too forward).
- Godfrey Masango said: “Even if someone has died, it’s not your place to inform the public. Wait for their families to announce. Yekelani ukuphapha.”
- Nokwanda Hlathi said: “This is being too forward. People want to get likes on social media and forget about the damage their posts might cause. Everyone doing this must be arrested.”
Zola 7, real name Bonginkosi Dlamini, has been said to be very ill, suffering from chronic epilepsy. A few weeks ago, his friends in the entertainment industry visited at his home and found him strong and cheerful.
When he welcomed them, he was bubbly, cracked jokes and reminisced about the good old days. Zola also took the opportunity to advise young artists to stay true to themselves and work hard.
He told his friends he was not down and out, but was silently working on other things.