Zahara’s family has halted plans for a benefit concert to buy back her Roodepoort house.
Zahara passed away on 11 December last year after spending almost three weeks at a private hospital in Johannesburg.
FAMILY UNABLE TO FUND EVENT TO SAVE ZAHARA’S HOUSE
According to TshisaLIVE, the late award-winning singer’s sister – Bandezwa Mkutukana-Febana – said they have not been able to secure a venue or funding for 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.”
The Dispatch Live reported that Bandezwa has already booked Orient Theatre, in East London, however, they have not yet paid for it. The was scheduled to be hosted by former Scandal! actress Lusanda Mbane. It would feature artists Khanyisa Sabuka, Butho Vuthela, Ivory Sikepe, Nathi Mankayi and Zahara’s best friend Vusi Nova.
THE HOUSE WAS AUCTIONED LAST YEAR
One year before her passing, the Loliwe hitmaker was on the verge of losing her townhouse as a result of defaulting on her monthly instalments of R17 665, 40. Nedbank, which had given her a R1.9 million loan, was set to auction off her home to the highest bidder.
While her fans donated, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) who donated R100 000 towards her loan — according to Sunday World – the money was not enough. Zahara’s house was auctioned last year. It was bought by Marten Bekker who allowed her to stay in it for a couple of months while she tried to raise funds to rebuy it.
NO ASSESS TO SINGER’S ESTATE
Bandezwa told TshisaLIVE that they have not been able to access Zahara’s estate assets to preserve her legacy.
“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.”
ZAHARA’S CLAIMS IT WAS SIDELINED
According to ZiMoja, the Phendula hitmaker’s band members are accusing her older sister Bandezwa Mkutukana-Febana of sidelining them.
“We worked with her from the start of her career, and we only hear about the said concert in the media,” said one band member.
According to the band member, Bandezwa fired everyone including their cousin Oyama Dyosiba who was Zahara’s manager. The source also alleged that she and her late sister did not get along.
“She knew what kind of person she was. In fact, in one of my calls with sisi Zahara before she died, she asked me to please keep her hospitalisation private. She said the only people who should know about her hospitalisation should only be her mom, sister Lumka and Mpho Xaba (Zahara’s fiance) and Oyama,” said the band member.