Kelly Khumalo slams eNCA for ‘disrespectful’ error as host mistakenly reports her death
In a recent broadcast, eNCA news anchor Shahan Ramkissoon mistakenly reported the death of musician Kelly Khumalo while ad-libbing a report about recently deceased musician Winnie Khumalo, who died following a short illness and was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.
Kelly, a prominent South African singer, actor, and television personality, responded to the erroneous report by posting the clip on her Instagram page.
She tagged the news organisation and expressed her dismay: “@encanews, you may hate me or even think very less of me; however, this is very reckless, ignorant and disrespectful not only to me but to those who love and care about me, especially my kids. PUT SOME RESPECT ON MY NAME.”
Ramkissoon promptly corrected the mistake on air, stating, “A correction on what I said earlier: it is Winnie Khumalo who passed away at the age of 51, not Kelly Khumalo. I apologise for that error.”
He further extended his apologies on X (formerly known as Twitter) for the on-air mishap.
Despite the correction, social media users criticised Kelly for not posting the correction video on her page, leading to a flurry of online discussions.
She gained prominence with her debut album T.K.O and hit single Qinisela in 2005. She has since released multiple successful albums, including The Voice of Africa in 2020, which was certified gold in South Africa.
She is also known for her roles in television series such as e.tv’s cancelled soapie Rhythm City, her reality shows Life with Kelly Khumalo on Showmax, and her controversial relationships with former Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa and South African hip-hop artist Molemo Maarohanye, popularly known as Jub Jub.
Ramkissoon is a respected South African journalist and television host with over a decade of experience across three continents.
He began his career as a field reporter at eNews 2007, covering general news and politics in Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg.
He has also served as a US correspondent for Arise News, a new international TV network. He is known for his dynamic and hard-hitting interview style, earning him widespread acclaim in journalism.
Social media users on X have weighed in on the matter:
