A walk through the "heroes acre" of Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg is like gate-crashing a star-studded event.
Former SABC Morning Live presenter Vuyo Mbuli smiles at you with his thumbs up, junior flyweight champion "Baby Jake" Matlala looks ready to go another round in his boxing shorts and gloves, while legendary football star John "Shoes" Moshoeu prepares to score a goal.
They are among the statues, busts and pictures carved on granite that form personalised tombstones on the graves of some of South Africa's best-loved personalities.
Many have been crafted by artist and businessman Lebohang Khitsane and his team at Bataung Memorial Tombstones, who shun "boring" traditional tombstones in favour of elaborate art installations.But the businessman took a knock this week with his latest creation, a 3m statue of award-winning producer and hitmaker Robbie Malinga. A flurry of nasty comments on social media, saying the statue did not resemble the musician at all, prompted Khitsane to take it down and head back to the drawing board.
Malinga, 49, was buried on Tuesday after dying of pancreatic cancer.
His seven-ton tombstone, which cost between R450,000 and R650,000, included a replica of awards the musician won, a piano, and the statue of him clad in a black suit and sunglasses.
Khitsane said Malinga's family had not complained, but he had been quick to respond to complaints on social media.
"Sometimes for you to grow as a businessman you need to listen to the feedback of the people and compare what they are saying with your work. If needs be, go back to the drawing board."
Khitsane, 42, started in the industry 13 years ago. His first celebrity graveyard artwork was of former South African Football Association president Solomon "Stix" Morewa in 2005, followed by one for actress Lindiwe Chibi, who played Doobsie in Muvhango and died in 2007.Soon afterwards, celebrities came knocking. But Khitsane said 70% of his clients were "ordinary citizens" whose families were tired of "boring", plain tombstones.It is not only dead people Khitsane immortalises. He has made statues for Shangaan disco king and reality-TV star Papa Penny, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and former president Thabo Mbeki.He also recently completed a bust of Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo. Khitsane said he had decided to make the statue after controversy broke out last year over Portuguese artist Emanuel Santos's sculpture of Ronaldo. The bust had been commissioned for the renaming of Madeira Airport to Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport and was criticised for not resembling the player.
Khitsane said the statue was still in the office of South Africa's ambassador in Madrid, Smuts Ngonyama, who is trying to hook up with Ronaldo's staff to get them to view it.
Two years ago, he launched tombstones with Braille. His tombstones also have QR codes that can be scanned by a cellphone, allowing mourners to view information about the person buried there.
"For me, this is God's calling. People appreciate beautiful tombstones. Each and every tombstone for me is a challenge. I have to make sure that what we create reflects the life of the deceased," said Khitsane.
Though not willing to divulge his prices, he said his most expensive creation had cost R1-million."There is debate whenever we unveil a celebrity's tombstone. Everybody is entitled to their opinion. I remember with the late Joe Mafela, people said his tombstone was too much, but we had those who really loved what we did."
Actor and singer Mafela, who died last year, was buried under an elaborate granite installation that included a life-sized couch, coffee table and flat-screen TV.
Khitsane plans to unveil the new Malinga statue on January 23. Malinga's elder brother, Bheki, said the family respected the company for wanting to rectify its mistake.
"Lebo has a good track record and we trust that he will do a good job. His job on my brother's tombstone was beautiful and it is only the resemblance that was a concern. We are willing to give him whatever time he may need and trust that he will do a good job."
National Funeral Directors' Association president Lawrence Konyana said personalised tombstones were growing in popularity in South Africa.
IN NUMBERS:
15 Men - took four days to complete singer Robbie Malinga’s tombstone.
7 Tons - The weight of the tombstone.
R1-Million - The cost of the most expensive tombstone Lebohang Khitsane has made, but he’s not saying who it was for.
R9-Billion - What the business of death is worth in South Africa each year, according to Forbes magazine...