Media personality Somizi Mhlongo delivered a deeply moving and emotional tribute at the memorial service of singer Winnie Khumalo, held at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg on Wednesday, 15 January.
His heartfelt words, focusing on the unique pain of losing a mother and the enduring nature of grief, quickly went viral, making him a trending topic on social media.
Somizi spoke eloquently about the complexities of grief, offering a perspective that resonated deeply with many. "For me it's a transition, it's inevitable and one thing that's guaranteed in life is that it happens," he said, referring to death.
He highlighted the profound difference between losing a mother and losing a father, emphasising the unique bond between a mother and child.
"There's an attachment of the umbilical cord, but mums are multitaskers. They can do anything and everything. They can be anything you want them to be and that's why it's difficult," he explained.
He challenged the common notion that time heals all wounds. "People are never warned about losing a mum. Nothing will ever be the same again. Don’t force to say that time heals, there's nothing like that. Time doesn’t heal, time makes it better," he stated emphatically.
Somizi delivered an emotional tribute to the late singer Winnie Khumalo during her memorial service. pic.twitter.com/mGBVFBBmRa
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Somizi normalised the ongoing nature of grief, suggesting that crying over the loss of a mother years later is perfectly acceptable.
"It's natural, it's okay and no one should tell you how long you should mourn your mum. You must mourn as much as you can and sometimes you're going to cry. There's a moment when you feel like she just passed today and that’s okay," he shared.
He also stressed the importance of family unity following the death of a mother, noting that the mother often acts as the family's central figure.
"When you lose a mum, you realise she was the glue of the family and you start having Christmases and special events alone," he observed.
Beyond his reflections on grief, Somizi also paid tribute to Winnie Khumalo, speaking fondly of her personality.
"Can we celebrate her new chapter? She was always bubbly, warm and energetic," he said. His speech struck a chord with many, prompting widespread sharing of the video online and establishing him as a trending topic on social media.
The memorial service also featured a moving tribute from Sannah "Sana" Mchunu, a fellow media personality known for her role as Zodwa in the popular Mzansi Magic telenovela, Gomora. Mchunu shared a remarkable story of how Khumalo had unexpectedly changed the course of her life.
Mchunu, who admitted to a challenging upbringing and a period of self-doubt, recounted a chance encounter with Khumalo.
"One day, Winnie visited my house since we were neighbours. She asked me what I was doing for a living, as I had recently returned home from living elsewhere. Neighbours were talking about my return," Mchunu recalled. She revealed that she lacked a matric certificate and felt limited in her prospects.
"I told her I'd appreciate any job, even if it was a cleaning job. Winnie said I should accompany her to see DJ Oskido and others," Mchunu continued. During their journey, Khumalo suggested they stop by auditions she was attending.
"It was a long queue, so she asked me to hold the line for her, but she couldn’t make it in time, and the people at the auditions said I should audition. I told them I didn’t have matric, and I wasn’t even a celebrity, but I ended up getting the role," she explained.
Mchunu attributed her current success directly to Khumalo's intervention. "I’m where I am right now because of Winnie, and I thank her," she said, expressing gratitude for the opportunity that transformed her life.
