Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has confirmed that five people died in a car crash on Saturday in the North West.
Earlier reports said amapiano artists Mpura and Killer Kau and three others they were traveling with in the North West died in a car crash at the weekend.
The popular amapiano artists were on their way to perform at a gig in Rustenburg when tragedy struck. The three other deceased have not been identified.
Although details of the crash remain sketchy, Mbalula said a fatal crash occurred on Saturday along the N4 between the Marikana Toll Plaza and Buffelspoort.
Times Live reported that Killer Kau, real name Sakhile Hlatshwayo, burst into the spotlight when he was “discovered” on Twitter.
Killer Kau’s break came after he uploaded a video of his song on the TL.
DJ Euphonik was impressed enough to take Killer Kau under his wing.
It wasn’t long before Tholukuthi Hey went viral and Killer Kau became a regular on TV and radio.
Mpura was a rising amapiano star. He was featured on Umsebenzi Wethu.
Although Mbalula did not name the deceased, reports indicate that the amapiano stars and three others died in the same area at the weekend.
An IOL report said Dudu Ngwenya, aka Lady Du, broke the devastating news to the public when she paid tribute to the duo on her Instagram page.
IOL Entertainment said the family of Killer Kau, real name Sakhile Hlatshwayo, confirmed in a statement that the 23-year-old artist and music producer has died.
IOL quoted Kau’s older sibling Gugu Hlatshwayo as saying a detective told the family the musician was one of five deceased.
Mbalula said the deceased were young people in their early 20s.
The transport minister also lamented another crash in Kempton Park that claimed two lives on Sunday.
A further 15 people were injured when their minibus taxi and a light motor vehicle collided in Kempton Park.
“It is tragic when a life is lost on our roads, and the death of young people at the prime of their lives robs the nation of much-needed talent to contribute to nation-building,” said Mbalula.
“My heartfelt condolences go to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in these tragic crashes.”
