Gugu Sibiya

Gugu Sibiya

Vuyo Mokoena will be buried on Friday.

Both the Ikatha Freedom Party and his family say the singer will be laid to rest at Nigel Cemetery after a memorial service at the Springs Civic Centre.

The charismatic gospel singer died at his Brakpan home last Friday morning following a battle with leukemia. Just before his death he had been diagnosed with a brain tumour and was undergoing radiation treatment.

Sipho Makhabane, who is the spokesman for the family, said the confusion over the burial dates had resulted from the family initially saying it would be on Saturday, as is the tradition.

"After they met with the funeral director, the family opted for Friday because the undertakers, B3, assured them that was the day they could really go to town and give the gospel artist a fitting burial with all the frills. Saturdays are always extremely busy.

"Vuyo's memorial service will be held at the Grace Bible Church in Pimville, today, at 11am. Another memorial service will be held tomorrow at the Duduza Multi Purpose Hall near Nigel, at 11am. The service will be on Friday at the Springs Civic Centre at 9am," explained Makhabane. From there the cortege will leave for Nigel Cemetery.

Regarding outstanding debt, Makhabane said that as far as he knew, Mokoena's hospital bills had all been paid.

"When we first took Vuyo to the clinic we paid upfront. This was convenient for me because it meant we would get a discount," he said.

Makhabane said the memorial services would be about celebrating Mokoena's life.

"A number of artists have come forward saying they want to sing. This is what Vuyo's life was all about and it's fitting that we should bid him farewell."

Pat Gule, said to be donating R3million to the family now that the hospital debt has been taken care of, said a press release would explain everything.