SNAPS | From collaborating to winning awards together — DJ Sbu's precious moments he shared with Zahara

After the death of award-winning singer and reality TV star Zahara on Monday, heartfelt tributes to the star have flooded the social media timeline.

Sbusiso “DJ Sbu” Leope, who discovered Bulelwa “Zahara” Mkutukana with TS Records co-founder TK Nciza in 2010, has also taken to his social pages to share fond memories he had with the singer. 

DJ Sbu has maintained a trending spot across social media platforms after claims about alleged unpaid royalties worth millions made by Zahara resurfaced on the timeline. 

On Wednesday DJ Sbu set the record straight denying the allegations during an interview on Newzroom Afrika, and said he would forever miss her and hold dear the beautiful memories they shared together.

“The few years I worked with her, I want people to remember her for being a jolly person, full of life, full of fun. She was funny, she was caring, she was kind. It was sad to hear she lost her life at such an early age,” he said. 

See the snaps below:

Speaking to SABC News, Sbu said he was also distraught after Zahara's death and visited her family to pay his respects.

Sbu said despite critics, he is prepared to take the punches.

“I was shocked. I was heartbroken like everyone else. Just like how you do in African customs and traditions you go and pay your respects at her family home. Despite what is out there in the public. People might be mad and might want to find somebody to blame.

“A lot of people are saying I'm to blame. Though I am not, having worked in the public eye for so long I understand. It's OK, let's be angry, let's be sad. Let's mourn. I'm also grieving, but as much as I'm grieving, you'll also get a lot of people saying certain messages on social media and that's fine. As a bigger brother I will take your cries, your messages. I understand you are angry.”

Through the years, Sbu has maintained he never swindled the singer of money.

“I built myself from nothing, I've never sought an opportunity to benefit from someone or try to take somebody else's money. When I met Zahara I was already rich, I could never take a single cent of Zahara's money,” he previously told TshisaLIVE.