THE South African literary community is mourning the death of Sindiswa Seakhoa.
The poet, musician and SA Literary Awards (Sala) founder died on Thursday, 10 February, after a short illness.
Her husband and business partner Morakabe “Raks” Seakhoa told Daily Sun Sindiswa was sick for a month.
“She started having shortness of breath and was taken to hospital. They put her on an oxygen treatment for eight days and that cleared. She didn’t have Covid-19. She then had this condition we cannot talk about for now and was in hospital for a month. She passed on in hospital,” he said.
Raks said Sindiswa’s death hit the family hard. “We are devastated. I still can’t believe it. She had a long series of things she wanted to do. She was a healer, wellness practitioner and did therapy as well.
“There were a lot of things she was doing and wanted to perfect and grow. She wanted to revive a lot of things. She was young and was about to turn 50 in a few months.”
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While details of the funeral haven’t been discussed yet, tributes for Sindiswa have been pouring in on social media.
Poet Lebo Mashile, who’s known Sindiswa since 2004, was gutted by the news of her death.
“Sindiswa leaves behind small children. There’s no reason why someone her age with so much to do should go. This week was hard, especially with Kuli Roberts’ passing and then Sindiswa.
“She was a very capable organiser. Artists are creatures who need the community to support each other because being an artist can be isolating. And people like Sindiswa and Raks brought us together. They held the role of bringing the entire black literary people together. Which spaces will be able to do that now that she’s gone?”
Book store, Xarra Books wrote: “We extend our deepest condolences to the Seakhoa family for the loss of a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend.”
Former journalist and writer Sam Mathe said: “Sis Sindi was a versatile artist. Through wRites Associates Sis Sindi and her husband Raks dedicated themselves to the promotion of the country’s literary heritage. Condolences to Bra Raks, the children, families, friends and the country’s artistic and literary communities.”
