Murdered Sibongiseni Gabada was key member of the ‘Zola 7’ team

Musician and actor Zola is devastated by the death of Sibongiseni Gabada whose body was found stuffed into a sports bag.
The musician, real name Bonginkosi Dlamini, worked with Gabada, 36, during the last season of his show, Zola 7. the tv show, presented by Zola, aired on SABC1 between 2002 and 2010. It helped children realise their dreams.

Gabada had been missing for 2 weeks when her body was found outside the shack of an individual who was on the brink of her on May 29 in Khayelitsha, Cape Town.

“I was actually together with her once I resigned from my show,” Zola told TimesLIVE on Monday. then most of my crew, including her, had to seek out work elsewhere. Maybe things would have clothed differently. She handled my office and every one my social media [accounts].”
Zola said he had mentored Gabada.

“I took her to all or any my meetings as a trainee until she was strong enough to tend a number of the large Zola7 responsibilities eventually,” said Zola.

He sang her praises.

“She was dedicated to the opportunities she got and worked very hard. She had big dreams and one could tell she came from a background of values and tradition and she or he was going somewhere,” he said.

“She was also unmistakably a really proudly Xhosa, and when she didn’t know she wasn’t afraid to ask. sometimes you’ll say she was our feminine eye and you’ll say she was one among the boys once we took her on the road .”
Zola said he was shattered by her death.

“There’ll never be days like free Fridays when the crew would be at my house. She loved making food and organizing everything. we might cry and laugh together,” he said.

“All 30 approximately folks would sit around the fire and reflect on the hard and sweet emotions of whatever work put us through that week. It’s vital for people to understand that she wasn’t just a Jimmy goes to Jozi, but found her footing here.

“NgesiZulu sithi dudu kumndeni wakhe, bazi ngakithi eGoli uSibo uyibekile induku ebandla as for her naughty giggles when she was in trouble with me? Now that was priceless.”

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said Sithembele Klaas appeared at the Khayelitsha magistrate’s court on Monday, charged with Gabada’s murder.

“His case has been postponed to July 15 2020 for bail application. he’s in custody.”