Zahara's benefit concert halts as family faces 'many challenges'

Zahara’s family failed in attempt to host a benefit concert to buy back her repossessed house

19 April 2024 - 16:16 By TshisaLIVE
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Songstress Zahara died on December 11.
Songstress Zahara died on December 11.
Image: Supplied

Plans for a benefit concert to buy back Zahara's repossessed house have been put on hold as the family faces challenges.

Zahara, real name Bulelwa Mkutukana, died in December 2023 after a short illness. 

The concert was expected to take place in East London later in April with a line-up including Zahara’s best friend Vusi Nova, Nathi Mankayi, Mawethu Dikiza, Lusanda Mbane and Khanyisa Nkantsu.

Zahara's sister Bandezwa Mkutukana-Febana told TshisaLIVE they had been struggling to secure a venue and funds to organise the event. 

“It's not going to happen now. We can't get to the community hall and there have been so many challenges. Zahara fought for her house while she was still alive, throughout her career that's what she managed to hold on to. Also, to us, that was like home, that's why we wanted to keep it because it's got so many memories for us with her in it. It's part of her legacy, we do not really want to lose it.” 

Bandezwa said Zahara's brother was occupying the house and they needed “close to R1m” to buy it.

She and the family were going back to the drawing board to find other solutions to buy the house because they had not been able to access her estate assets to preserve her legacy. 

“It's not easy. But at least by the grace of God we are still standing, we are not in hospital, we are still thinking.”

She said they were struggling getting “responses as to where Zahara's money is”.

“We were not going to eat the money but we were going to take that money and keep Zahara's legacy by buying back the house, but because we see companies playing with us and giving us a hard time we wanted to do something faster so we can save the house. We won't stop.”

Meanwhile, Zahara's band has questioned the intentions of the family in their attempts to buy the Roodepoort townhouse.

“They didn't consult any of us. How are they going to pay for a house with ticket sales money? Who is going to stay there and what is going to happen after? How is that person going to be able to make payments for that kind of home?”



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