Puff loses cancer battle

US singer Puff Johnson, 40, died in the early hours of yesterday, succumbing to cervical cancer after a long fight.

She was battling the disease during her time in South Africa.

Ishmael Morabe, of local hip-hop outfit Jozi, recalled an "always accommodating" woman who, even when she had to take "a lot of pills" to counter the incessant pain, never complained or let it weigh down their relationship. The pair dated and lived together for a few years.

One of Johnson's local friends was the Percy Vilakazi, the music director of e.tv soapie Rhythm City.

He spoke to Johnson and her mother Marie on Friday last week.

Johnson, whose hits include Over and Over and Forever More, was diagnosed with cancer in March 2008 and told The Times in June 2009 that she was worried that it would scupper her dreams of having children by Morabe, the "love of my life".

She was not to realise her dream of motherhood.

Early in 2009 she began work on her sophomore album with local label Ghetto Ruff Records. The label's MD, Lance Stehr, said yesterday that "15 to 20 tracks" had been recorded for the album.

"It's very sad that she released only one album, " said Stehr.