Kelly Khumalo's rags-to-riches and back to rags story

It includes a dark time in the singer's career when she had to go back home to her mother's RDP house with her Hummer parked in the small yard as a reminder of her once lavish lifestyle.

The story of the recovering drug addict and singer is all too familiar, with elements of the fall and darkness of a broken star.

The author, Melinda Ferguson, has only dangled a carrot in front of the reader as Khumalo's voice lacks conviction in the book.

The Kelly Khumalo Story, already available in bookshops, will be launched at the end of the month.

It tells the tale of two former drug addicts. Ferguson, a reformed addict and True Love features editor, tells her story alongside Khumalo's.

"I told Melinda a lot of things and she became a part of my life," said Khumalo, explaining the format.

Apart from events including Khumalo's drug addiction, alleged abusive relationship with ex-lover Molemo "Jub Jub" Maarohanye, who fathered her son Christian, and lying on national television that she was a virgin, what stands out is how Khumalo regressed - from riches to rags, from her classy Bassonia flat to an RDP house - after her addiction had ravaged her fortunes.

Khumalo returns home to her mother's two-roomed house in Spruitview, Ekurhuleni, to add to the already full household.

The Hummer parked in the tiny gateless garden all but dwarfs the small two-roomed RDP-style brick home. The house belongs to Kelly's mother, Ntombi.

Meanwhile, Maarohanye and Themba Tshabalala - who are facing four counts of murder, two of attempted murder, reckless or negligent driving and driving under the influence of drugs - are due to hear their fate when the verdict is expected to be handed down in the Protea Magistrate's Court in Soweto between Wednesday and Friday this week.