PICTURES: Ten well known South African women who are dearly missed

1. Winnie Madikizela- Mandela: September 26, 1936- April  2, 2018

An anti-apartheid activist and politician and the ex-wife of the late Nelson Mandela. She served as a Member of Parliament from 1994 to 2003 and from 2009 until her death.

2. Lebo Mathosa: July 17 ,1977- October 23, 2006

Lebo Mathosa was a popular singer. She started her career with the popular South African band Boom Shaka in 1994 at the age of 17, after she caught the eye of music producer Don Laka at a club in Johannesburg.

3. Ashley Callie: December 30, 1976- February 15, 2008

Ashley Callie was an actress, best known for her role as Leone Haines in Isidingo. She died as a result of head injuries from a head-on car collision in Johannesburg.

4. Tsakani Mhinga: November 23, 1978 – February 27, 2006

Tsakani also known as “TK” was a multiple award- winning  R&B singer, arranger and songwriter. She was found dead in a hotel room in Bryanston, Johannesburg by hotel staff on 27 February 2006, of what seemed to be either a drug overdose or a drug-induced suicide.

5. Reeva Steenkamp: August 19, 1983- February 14, 2013

The model and television personality who was shot and killed  by her boyfriend, Paralympic and Olympic athlete, Oscar Pistorius.

6. Mirriam Makeba: March 4, 1932-  November 9, 2008

Makeba also known as Mama Africa was a  singer, actress, United Nations goodwill ambassador and civil-rights activist. Associated with musical genres including Afropop, jazz, and world music, she was an advocate against apartheid and white-minority government in South Africa. She died  of a heart attack after a 30 minute performance at a concert for Roberto Saviano near the southern Italian town of Caserta.

7. Brenda Fassie: November 3, 1964-May 9, 2004

Known best for her songs Weekend Special and Too Late for Mama among others, she was dubbed “The Madonna of the Townships” by Time magazine in 2001. Affectionately called MaBrrr by her fans died in hospital after slipping into a coma following reports that revealed she had taken an overdose of cocaine.

8. Lesego Motsepe: April 28, 1974- January 20, 2014

The South African actress, social activist and singer  was best known for her role as Letti Matabane in Isidingo from 1998 to 2008. In 2011 on World Aids Day the actress made a public announcement about her HIV status. She had been living with the disease since 1998.

9. Siysanga Kobese: November 17 -28 April, 2018

The Joyous Celebration singer Siyasanga Kobese died with Akhumzi Jezile and three others in a car crash. She was also known for her role on Zabalaza.

10. Albertina Sisulu: October 21 1918-  June 2 2011

She was a political activist and nurse and one of the most important leaders of anti-Apartheid resistance and was one of the organisers of the historic anti-pass Women’s March in 1956 and opposed inferior Bantu education.