Afropop Legend Winnie Khumalo Passes Away at the Age of 51 After Short Illness
On the 7th of January 2025, South Africa was rocked with the tragic news of the sudden passing of veteran afropop singer-songwriter Winnie Khumalo at the age of 51.
According to the statement released informing the public of the unfortunate loss, MaWinnie passed on only after a brief illness.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Winnie Khumalo, who left us on 7 January 2025 after a short illness. Born on 20 July 1973, Winnie captured our hearts and made her mark in the music industry in 1988 with her debut album, Hey Laitie. Affectionately known as ‘Dwinky Dwinky’ during the 80s, her voice and talent brought joy to many.
“To her family, Winnie was much more than a star. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, and cousin. Her loss leaves a void that will be deeply felt by her family, friends, and fans alike,” said the statement.
Winnie Khumalo | SUPPLIED
Despite starting her career at the young age of 15, Winnie continued to grow in strength and popularity through the years, sustaining her run all the way into the 2020s with a string of albums including Just Wanna Live My Life, which spawned the commercially successful magnum opus: “Live My Life”. Her gold-certified single garnered her plaudits from industry pundits, manifesting in recognition from the South African Music Awards and the Channel O Music Video Awards.
Her last offering was an EP named Legend for Life, released two years ago.
Khumalo is survived by two children, including “Ntyilo Ntyilo” hitmaker Rethabile Khumalo.
Details concerning the whereabouts of the funeral and the dates will be communicated in due time.