/ 15 July 2008

Youth groups pay tribute to late Malaika star

Jabulani Ndaba, member of award-winning local music group Malaika, was a talented star and an inspiration to young South Africans, said the Inkatha Freedom Party Youth Brigade on Tuesday.

Malaika have won several music awards and achieved great success at home and on the international music scene since the group’s launch nine years ago.

Ndaba died at Tshepong Hospital in Klerksdorp on Monday. He had been ill for months and was taken to the hospital a week ago suffering from tuberculosis.

Youth brigade spokesperson Pat Lebenya-Ntanzi said the brigade would like to pay tribute to the singer.

”We know that his creativity as a singer, composer and producer combined with his hard work and dedication has been a driving force behind Malaika’s success. We would like to extend our condolences to Jabulani’s relatives, friends, fans and other band members during this sad and difficult time,” she said.

The Young Communist League also paid tribute to the singer on Tuesday.

Ndaba was adored by many and had touched both the working class and the poor youth, said spokesperson Castro Ngobese.

”We will remember Ndaba’s immense contribution in shaping the entertainment discourse as part of our effort of building a better and caring citizenry,” he said. ”He was among the nucleus in the music genre that was destined to play a key and strategic role in entrenching the values of love and solidarity through music among our people.”

Ngobese called on musicians and those in the entertainment industry to help lower healthcare costs and promote healthy lifestyles, adding: ”We extend our deepest and profound condolences to his family, colleagues, friends and fans.” — Sapa