Gift Gwala was a composer of note

COMPOSER and producer Gift Gwala has died of leukaemia. Gwala was a member of famous a cappella gospel group Pure Gold.

Born at Mzimhlophe, Soweto, 48 years ago, Gwala was sick for some time until he gave up the fight on Monday morning. Doc Shebeleza, who is a cousin of Gwala, said it was sad that his family was being wiped out by "a monster called cancer".

"Last week I lost my uncle through cancer. Now this week my cousin also left us due to the same disease."

Shebeleza, whose real name is Victor Bogopane, said: "Gift was a hard worker who preferred to work in the background. He was also a business person."

Gwala was part of the family group Pure Gold since its inception in 1974. The group started singing in church before it caught the eye of veteran singer Blondie Makhene.

In 1984, Pure Gold launched its profile with an album that did not do well. In 1985, the band dropped Elami Likhona, an album that took the group to another level. The album sold more than 250000 copies.

They have since released 16 albums. Gwala was also a member of Platform One, a group that specialised in wedding songs.

Freddie (Gwala) of the Amadamara fame, a brother to the deceased, said Gwala was a focused person.

"He has been a member of the two family groups. He also assisted in my group, Amadamara. Gift was one of the best composers."

Gwala will be buried tomorrow. The service starts at 8am at the Old Apostolic Church in Zone 9 Meadowlands, Soweto. The cortege will then leave for Roodepoort Cemetery.

He is survived by two sisters, six brothers, a wife, daughter and grandchild.