Durban kwaito star Tzozo reflects on working with the late Winnie Khumalo

Kalawa Jazmee's Tzozo has shared his personal tribute to singer Winnie Khumalo, who has died at the age of 51.

In the early 2000s, the singer and Tzozo collaborated with Brother Of Peace on their song Bhampa 2 Bhampa, after she worked with Brenda Fassie.

Speaking to TshisaLIVE, the Woza' eDurban hitmaker said the industry is having a bad start to the new with the death of Winnie.

“I worked a lot with her in 2004, with Bruce [Sebitlo] and Oskido. We travelled a lot with her with Brothers Of Peace, even promoting her daughter's music career. Winnie's confidence in music couldn't be measured,” he said.

“I learnt she was also an actress as she alluded she'll be starring in the comic film Madluphuthu during that time and I could see I was working with a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry.

“As a member of the Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa in KwaZulu-Natal, we say condolences to her family.”

The Live My Life hitmaker died on Tuesday. Her sister and representative for the family Tshepi Akeepile confirmed she died on Tuesday after a short illness.

“As a family we are deeply saddened. She was sick and her daughter was out. It was her daughter who went home to collect her so she could be taken to hospital. She tried to help her,” Tshepi told the SABC.

“She was not well. On their drive to the hospital she passed away. When they arrived at the hospital they pronounced her dead on arrival. It is expected that we will be devastated. We are at a loss.

“Winnie had a son, Ntando Khumalo, and daughter, Rethabile Khumalo, and three grandchildren, three sisters and her mother.”