Who was Miss Lara Kruger and why is everyone mourning her?

Yesterday, the entertainment industry and South African LGBTI community was surprised by the sudden news of Lara Kruger’s passing but many are still in the dark about who she was and why so many were hurt by the loss. 

People who respected her work and number of media personalities that knew her personally expressed a great sense of sadness at the loss of Lara Kruger.

Described as a socialite and broadcaster, 30-year-old Kruger was born Thapelo Lehulere in Rustenburg and later became known as Lara-Kruger once she began her transition. 

Most were first introduced to her during an episode of Noeleen Mahlwana-Sanqu’s SABC 3 show, 3Talk with Noeleen, which was focused on gaining insight into transactional relationships or the phenomenon commonly referred to as the sugar daddy-sugar baby relationship.

She later joined the SABC in 2016 and was a presenter of Motsweding FM’s weekend show  “Di direga kae.”

She was also actively vocal about LGBTI issues on social media in addition to doing work as an activist in her personal time. She spoke about her life as well as her experience in the entertainment industry in one of her last interviews with Tshisa Live.

Details about her death have yet to be confirmed but it has been said that she was hospitalised for depression twice in the space of a week in the days leading up to her death.

The details of her memorial and funeral service will be announced in due course.

Main image credit: facebook.com/RBEsouthAfrica