Mzansi has lost big a great deal of celebrities at the hands of depression and anxiety. It appears many artists and many media personalities are taking their lives due to mental health. Although uncomfortable to talk because of being misunderstood, depression and anxiety continue to take our stars at the speed of light. Mzansi continues to mourn and celebrates its stars during these darkest times
Recently the passing of veteran actor Patrick Shai shook the country to its core. Shai was an actor and director. He was best known for the roles in the television series and shows such as Soul City, Generations, Zone 14, Ashes to Ashes, and Zero Tolerance. He was one of the founding members of Free Film Makers of South Africa. He made his last and final television appearance on the popular SABC1 telenovela Uzalo. Shai took his own life and his body was discovered by his wife hanging in the garage of his Dobsonville home on Saturday morning, 22 January, 2022.
Who can forget the tragic passing on rapper and hip hop star Jabulani Tsambo, famously known for his stage name Hip Hop Pantsula. HHP was a Motswako rapper who performed in several languages, mostly in Setswana. He was prominent in bringing South African hip hop and motswako rap to the mainstream world. His passing took Mzansi by storm and till this day people are still talking about it. The rapper died in 2018 after he was suspected to have committed suicide. And the details surrounding his death was suspected to have been due to depression as his last words were,
“I’m depressed. I'm going out of control. I'm losing it.”
Songstress, rising star and house vocalist Nichume Siwundla, also committed suicide back in 2019, just a month after celebrating her birthday. The news came as a shock to her Mzansi, her fans and especially to her family who dearly loved and adored her. Nichume was featured in chart-topping hits such as Bhutiza, Daydreaming, and Far Away. Nichume's mentor and Nichume's fellow musician of the hit song 'Bhutiza, Mobi Dixon spoke extensively at the heartbreaking and loss of Nichume.
"We didn't see it coming at all. We knew about the depression and that she was seeing doctors and taking medication, but we never thought she'd go so far. We thought she was in control. She was a fighter." said Mobi Dixon
Another promising star who dies due to committing suicide is Yizo Yizo star Christopher Kubheka aka Gunman. Kubheka died at home and his body was discovered hanging on a security door where he had used a tie to hang himself. Kubheka who shot to fame on SABC1's Yizo Yizo television series in the late 1990s has died. Although the details surrounding his death still remains a mystery but depression and anxiety was on the table. Kubheka was also popular for his role on Zone 14 as Bazooka Khumba on SABC1.
Following Patrack Shai's death, a number of fellow celebrities and media personalities voiced their grievances and blamed social media as one of the reasons why people are committing suicide. Taking to his Instagram account, Somizi Mhlongo encouraged men to open up about their struggles with mental health instead of bottling things up. This follows the untimely passing of Patrick Shai, American actress and director Regina King's son and Irish singer and songwriter Sinead O'Connor's son.
“I realized this morning that their passing has one thing in common, it's the cause and the how. The three of them committed suicide and three of them are men and it reminded me about what I always speak about in terms of one, men really bottling stuff in a lot, about what people go through and we never knew," said Somizi Mhlongo
Others starts who are reportedly to be suffering from depression and anxiety
TV presenter and media personality, Minenhle 'Minnie' DlaminiMinnie Dlamini - Twitter Actress and media personality Salamina MoseseSalamina Mosese - Twitter
Comedian and The Daily Show host Travor NoahTrevor Noah - Instagram While Mzansi still mourns the passing of actress, radio and TV personality Kuli Roberts. On the Podcast and Chill with MacG, Kuli's finally words were,
"I just want you guys to look after each other. look after the people being looked down on, those with albinism and the LGBTQI community"
Mzansi look after one another and remember that depression and anxiety is real.
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