Top South African musician S’fiso Ncwane is no more

News on the internet revealed that the popular gospel musician died today at a Johannesburg hospital. Details surrounding his death are still unclear, however. His sister Gugu told The Drum, "It happened this morning and we don’t have the details yet,” she said.

It is understood that his family rushed him to hospital on Sunday night when he started vomiting blood. Ncwane had recently performed at the Thobela FM Praise and Worship Festival at Burgersfort in Limpopo where he told fans that he was not feeling well.

Born on 21 April 1979 in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, Sfiso was one of the most successful gospel musicians in South Africa.

Ncwane recorded his debut album Makadunyiswe with Bula Music in 2006. The album introduced him to the music industry and earned him a household name. This was followed by Inombolo Yasezulwini, which featured the late legendary Vuyo Mokoena and Zodwa Twecu. In 2003 he released Umkhuleko a multi-selling album that became number one on many South African radio stations. The album also made him popular in countries such as Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana. Baba Ngiyavuma, Kulungile Baba, Bayede Baba and Wethembekile Baba were also successful albums released by Ncwance in a prolific career that saw him work with almost all the biggest names in South African gospel music, including Rebecca Malope, Winnie Mashaba and Sipho Makhabane.

In 2011, ‘Kulungile Baba’, a song taken from his Kulungile Baba album became a huge hit and went multiplatinum in just 16 months, selling over 328 000 copies. The album was nominated for a Song Of The Year award at the SABC Crown Gospel Music Awards. In 2013, it won the Record of The Year accolade at the South Africa Music Awards as well as an AGMA awards in the UK.

Ncwane is survived by his wife Ayanda Ncwane and two children, Ngcweti and Umawenzokuhle.

May his soul rest in peace.