Imagine waking up to countless text messages from people asking if a certain family member had indeed passed on due to a car accident. Or you open your WiFi and see your favourite ZAleb trending at number 1 and you see #RIP trending along with that person.
Only to find out a few moments later that it is fake news and the person is alive and well. Several of our faves have been rocked with such fallacious rumours that they have met their fate. Their families get affected the hardest and the worst thing is finding out about a loved one's death on social media.
"This weekend was very hectic in my life. I really do not know who came out with the message that I have passed on. Let's please be sensitive for the families, relatives and close friends because they are the ones who goo through the most.
"Let us be prayerful for the families before going on social media. I AM VERY MUCH ALIVE. I WILL DIE NOT BUT I WILL SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING. Thank you for all the love that you shown in my allegedly Death. I love you," she wrote.
This week, Dr. Malinga slammed death rumours as well after he was said to have died on Saturday the 20th. He had switched off his cell phone and he was shocked when he saw that many missed calls from people.
He told Daily Sun that he is alive and kicking, “People must’ve mistaken me for someone else. I am fine. I need everyone to know that I am alive and well. People started calling me on Saturday night, while I was busy recording in studio and I thought to myself I’d check the calls later. But I forgot. When I woke up, there were a lot of calls and messages on my phone,” he explained.
Hi I'm alive Dr Malinga please help me wish TIISETSO MALINGA a happy birthday as he's turning 15 years old today ❤️ @ South Africa https://t.co/d89VglShqf
Last year, Ami Faku fans almost lost it when numerous posts on Facebook suggested that she had died. "Ami Faku- Rest In Peace," the post which started the whole rumour read. This person was referencing Ami's song featuring Emtee called Lala Ngoxolo.Facebook screenshot She was left startled by this and tweeted "what the f*ck" and she also responded to a follower who laughed at the situation, by saying "bamuncu" meaning "people are bitter."
On many occassions, actress Sophi Ndaba was said to have died. These malicious rumours were made because of her dramatic weight loss. She was diagnosed with diabetes and she lost a lot of weight. It's almost as if Facebookers want Sophie dead as this happens yearly. The last time it happened was last year and her soon-to-be ex-husband Max Lichaba also slammed these people.
"It's heartbreaking to read messages that I'm dead. It's the second time this year this has happened and it's extremely traumatic to my family friends and especially my kids. To address the rumours I'm alive and kicking and God willing I'm not going anywhere anytime soon," she said Zakhele Msibi
Actor Zakhele Msibi of Isibaya fame, was told by his brother Ernest Msibi that he was no more on Facebook. "My brother sent me a screenshot of a Facebook post that I am dead. Someone posted this on the Ladies House Facebook page. I was shocked and as I was trying to process it, calls from my friends and family started coming in. They were worried thinking I was dead," he told Daily Sun.
The rumour was started by a Nokwanda Manozi Ndlovu and Zakhele tried to contact her. "Unfortunately, she hasn’t responded. I need to get to the bottom of this. People cannot be spreading lies like this and get away with it," he said.
