Much like 2020, 2021 was a 12 months marked by loss – of pals, household and famous faces alike.
This is due, in main half, to Covid-19 but additionally to tragedies like automotive accidents and previous age in some instances.
This unhappy actuality was mirrored in Google’s “Year in Search” information for 2021.
Earlier this week, Google revealed the outcomes of its 2021 Year in Search, exhibiting how individuals search to seek out solutions to their largest questions.
“Google’s 2021 Year in Search compiles the moments, individuals, matters, occasions, and locations that captured the world’s consideration this 12 months,” stated the firm in a press release.
Although the 12 months in search focuses on a variety of matters, right this moment, we take a look at the deaths of famous those that had been high of thoughts for South Africans.
Perhaps the most stunning loss of life of a famous particular person occurred earlier this 12 months when the loss of life of Shona Ferguson was confirmed simply days after news that he had been taken to the intensive care unit (ICU) after a Covid-19 analysis.
Another loss of life that trended and saddened many South Africans was that of entertainer Killer Kau (Sakhile Hlatshwayo), who died in a automotive accident together with different younger entertainers Mpura (Mongezi Thomas Stuurman), The Voice (Khanya Radebe), Thando Tot (Thando Sibisi) and TD (Thando Khunjwa).
Respected US rapper DMX additionally died this 12 months, after he suffered a coronary heart assault and was topic to a loss of life hoax previous to his precise passing.
AFP reviews that the artist born Earl Simmons died after practically every week on life help following a coronary heart assault.
Following his passing, he was honoured in a sequence of documentaries by music platforms corresponding to BET, who honoured him with tribute performances throughout award reveals.
The late minister is one other certainly one of the many lives lost to Covid-19 this 12 months and his passing rocked the total South African political neighborhood.
Colleagues and opposition leaders alike had nothing however sort phrases to say about who Mthembu was as an individual and a politician in the days following his loss of life.
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Due to his unwell well being, former Generations and Isibaya star Menzi Ngubane is a famous one that has been the topic of many loss of life hoaxes, which recurrently went viral on social media.
Sadly, earlier this 12 months, truth mimicked fiction when the actor’s loss of life was confirmed by his household.
A few days thereafter, Menzi’s father died and so they had been laid to relaxation on the identical weekend.
Self-proclaimed prophet, televangelist and philanthropist TB Joshua died earlier this 12 months at the age of 57.
Joshua grew to become infamous in South African media after certainly one of his church’s buildings collapsed and killed a number of of the devoted, together with South Africans. More than 80 individuals died when a visitor home in Nigeria collapsed.
In April, Queen Elizabeth II’s husband Prince Philip died at the age of 99 after spending greater than a month in hospital following a coronary heart process.
“It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen pronounces the loss of life of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,” Buckingham Palace stated in a press release after his loss of life.
According to the palace, he handed away peacefully at Windsor Castle.
Former president of apartheid South Africa, FW de Klerk, died final month in Cape Town, after a battle towards most cancers. The FW de Klerk Foundation confirmed his loss of life to News24.
There had been questions about whether or not or not he would get an official state funeral, nonetheless, he was laid to relaxation (and cremated) in a personal ceremony attended by household solely.
Eastern Cape-born actress Noxolo Maqashalala died in March of this 12 months. Maqashalala’s physique was discovered at her Johannesburg house and it’s believed that the 44-year-old actress had been lifeless for about every week earlier than she was discovered.
Maqashalala was well-known for her function as Viwe in the first three seasons of youth drama sequence Tsha Tsha. She additionally appeared in Generations, Binnelanders, Diamond City and Intersexions.
Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini KaBhekuzulu died in March at a Durban hospital attributable to Covid-related problems whereas being handled for diabetes.
President Cyril Ramaphosa accorded him a Special Official Funeral Category 1 that got here with navy honours. In September, his son Prince Butho died after a reported lengthy sickness.
Other famous individuals who died this 12 months embrace Shaleen Surtie-Richards, Real Housewives of Johannesburg star Naledi Willers, Afrikaans musician Theuns Jordaan, vogue designer Virgil Abloh, writer Wilbur Smith and former Johannesburg mayor Jolidee Matongo, to call a number of.
