by Thinus Ferreira
The veteran hair and makeup artist Nonhlanhla Nombewu (pictured) suddenly died, while the soccer
commentator Coudjoe Amankwaa suddenly passed away from cardiac arrest on
Friday, with the highly-acclaimed jazz musician Andre Petersen (43) who died
away after losing his battle against Covid-19.
Nonhlanhla Nombewu cause of death is still unknown.
Andre Petersen who tested Covid-19 positive on 21 June died on Thursday and was the jazz programme co-ordinator at the School of Arts at the University of the Witwatersrand. He leaves behind his wife Chantal and an 8-year old daughter.
As one of South Africa's most sought after pianists and educators the award-winning Andre Petersen was also a lecturer in piano at the University of Cape Town, University of Stellenbosch and UWC's Performing Arts Centre and received numerous classical music and jazz music awards.
He performed at jazz and arts festivals in South Africa and across the world, and collaborated with dozens of musicians like Winston Mankunku, Makaya Mtshoko, Feya Faku, Robbie Jansen, Judith Sephuma, Jimmy Dludlu and many more.
The famed hair and make-up artist Nonhlanhla Nombewu who won a SAFTA award for her work, also suddenly passed away, with her cause of death that is not yet known. The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) said that "the SAFTAs community has lost another brilliant talent. The 2007 SAFTAs winner and seasoned make-up artist Nonhlanhla Nombewu has sadly left us".
Nonhlanhla Nombewu was well-known among the casts and crews across numerous of South Africa daily soap opera drama series.
Nonhlanhla Nombewu headed up the hair and make-up team at M-Net and the Ferguson Films-produced The Queen for Mzansi Magic (DStv 161), and previously was the head of the hair and make-up department at Isipho on e.tv, the head of hair and make-up at SABC2's Muvhango, the head of hair and make-up at SABC1's Generations, and was also a make-up artist for news anchors at SABC News in Auckland Park.
The veteran Ghanaian football commentator and sports journalist Coudjoe Amankwaa who lived in South Africa died on Friday from cardiac arrest and leaves behind his wife and two children.
Cudjoe Amankwaa was a former Sowetan and The Citizen soccer journalist since he came to South Africa in 1994 and from there joined the South African public broadcaster.
As a SABC Sports analyst and commentator he made frequent appearances on SABC1's magazine shows like Soccer 411 and SoccerZone and on SABC Radio stations, and also appeared on SABC News, eNCA and SuperSport giving analyses on soccer.
"Our friend, colleague and fellow, football lover, Coudjoe Amankwaa has suddenly passed away this evening. He was truly loved and was known as 'Malume'. May His Soul Rest In Eternal Peace. I miss you already," wrote Christophe Bongo on Friday night who had worked with Coudjou Amankwaa on SABC sports programmes.
Dominic Chimhavi, South African Football Association (SAFA) communications director, said Cudjoe Amankwaa's family "rushed him to hospital when he couldn't wake up for supper and upon arrival at the hospital, was declared dead".
Danny Jordaan, SAFA president, in a statement said that the death of Coudjoue Amankwaa is a sad day for sports journalism in South Africa,
"The industry has been robbed of an honest individual and one journalist who called a spade a spade. We are all poorer without Coudjoe."
"This is one of the saddest days in the history of sports journalism. Coudjoe was one of the most amiable journalists around and had earned his stripes both as a print and broadcast journalist."
The SABC in a statement said that it "is saddened by the passing of Coudjoe Amankwa".
Gary Rathbone, SABC Sport general manager, said "I would like to pay
tribute to a person who was not only extremely knowledgeable about football on
our continent, but who was courageous, never afraid to speak his mind and
always warm-hearted and larger than life".
"Having known and worked with Coudjoe
since the early 2000s, I considered him a friend as much as a colleague, and
will miss his presence in our world of sport immensely."
