She was the love of his life.
In fact, the day before the accident, they were singing and dancing like any happy couple.
Gospel singer Sechaba Pali is now mourning the loss of his partner who died following a car crash in Welkom on 10 September.
The lovebirds had hired a car in Joburg and driven to Welkom where Sechaba was performing. His partner, Nompilo Kunene joined him. She often performed with him and was his manager.
Sechaba’s younger brother and family spokesperson, Thebe, speaks to Drum and says his brother is really struggling with the loss.
“Mpilo was the love of his love. They have been together for the longest time. I video called them while they were away, and they were their usual selves. They were happy, Sechaba and I were laughing at her as she was singing and dancing during our video call.
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“At the time of the accident they were travelling together. She was driving when the accident happened. The car overturned and landed on her side. My brother managed to get out with minor scratches. He has had a car accident before and so he has a phobia for hospitals. He only went to the hospital because the ambulance was taking Mpilo there.
“What we have been told is that the doctors received her and rushed her into the theatre and she died in surgery,” he says.
There had been conflicting reports that Nompilo died with their son, but Thebe says that is not true.
“They were out working in Welkom and the children were left here in Joburg.”
Their two children are aged seven and one.
At the time of the accident, Thebe says, the pair were travelling to the next gig, but they did not make it.
He adds that the Eloyi hitmaker is not doing well.
“My brother is shattered,” Thebe explains.
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“They were happy. Aah, and she was so sweet. Don’t get me wrong, she was tough because any woman with my brother had to be tough. But she was a lovely person to be around. She was bubbly. She was a mediator and always very supportive.”
Thebe says the family is asking for donations to help get Nompilo’s body back from Welkom.
“The income was one sided because my brother is the sole provider. He is the bread winner. The body needs to be collected from Welkom and brought to Joburg where she lived. But there is an instruction for her grandfather that she needs to be buried in their KwaZulu Natal home.
“It is going to cost a lot of money to transport her to Joburg and back to KZN. Her memorial will be in Joburg where her friends are. I am currently working on getting an account that will be made public for donations.”
