We were going to celebrate his wife's birthday when he died, says Mandoza neighbour

We were going to celebrate his wife's birthday when he died, says Mandoza neighbour

TMG Entertainment | 2016-09-19 07:15:54.0

Mandoza seen here performing at the Thank You SABC Music Concert
Image by: MABUTI KALI

Friends and family members have told TMG Entertainment of their shock at Mandoza's death, saying despite his ill health, they are completely taken aback that he died.

Speaking to TMG Entertainment outside Mandoza's family home in Soweto on Sunday, neighbours to the star say that on Saturday they were sitting outside his house on the grass with his wife, Mpho, and they were excited to celebrate her birthday.

“I am shocked. We are sitting together yesterday. (Saturday) It was for Mpho’s birthday and we were saying ‘Mpho, we gonna chill tomorrow. Drink, be merry. I even said to her, ‘He will pull out of this.’ He was a fighter. He was always fighting. We were all praying.”

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Neighbours say that the community made a decision not to speak about his illness as they didn't want the negativity.

It was announced just 12 days before his death that he was "fighting for his life" after doctors discovered a brain tumour. Mandoza was last year diagnosed with cancer but later received a clean bill of health.

'We didn't want to give out the negative story. When you are sick and you get negative stories... we didn't want that."

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In another area of Soweto, outside his grandmother's house, an aunt said that they visited Mandoza the night before he died.

"We were there to pray for him. We were just praying."

Community members tell us that his house has seen an influx of visitors ever since the family went public with news of his tumour.

It's understood that his manager and mother rushed him to hospital but he died en route.

Meanwhile, the community gathered last night at his home to prepare a room for the mourning process.