We all hope to see our favorite celebrities live a long and prosperous life, but sometimes life has other plans, and they are taken away at a young age, leaving us to wonder how successful their careers would have been.
Welcome to Gemini Blessed TV, and today we’re going to showcase 10 celebrities who passed away before the age of 30. If you’re new to the channel, we publish new videos every week, so hit the subscribe button to stay updated.
1. Akumsi Jasilay
Born on January 15, 1989, Akumsi Jasilay was a South African actor, television presenter, and producer. He was best known for being a presenter on the SABC1 TV show “Your TV” in 2009, where he was voted the most popular kids show presenter.
During his career, he interviewed international celebrities such as the Black Eyed Peas and Mary J. Blige. In 2018, he started his acting career on the SABC1 drama series “Tempest Pushers” and won an SAFTA award for Best Supporting Actor in 2014.
Unfortunately, in 2018, at the height of his career, Akumsi passed away after a car accident. The presenter was on his way to bury his grandmother when a truck carrying a car went into their lane, resulting in a head-on collision.
All five passengers in the car, including Akumsi, didn’t survive. One can only imagine the pain felt by his family after having to bury their son soon after burying their grandmother. Many local celebrities, including Dallas and Boiti Tulo, paid their tribute to the talented presenter. He was only 29 years old at the time of his passing.
2. Tumi Masilela
Tumi Masilela was a multi-talented South African actor, musician, and football star, best known for playing Israel on “Rhythm City.” Tumi started off his career as a soccer player and played for SuperSport United before being involved in a car accident that resulted in a career-ending injury to one of his legs.
He decided to explore music and ended the Idols competition in 2012, making it to the top 18. This talent got him noticed by TV producers, landing him the role of Sufficient Gamer on “Rhythm City.” In 2017, he got married to actress Symbio and Gamer just three months before his death. In August 2017, Tumi and his friend were involved in a hijacking.
Tumi was shot as he resisted and tried to flee from the hijackers. After suffering a gunshot wound, his friend rushed him to a hospital where he passed away. The three suspects were arrested and charged with the murder of the actor. “Rhythm City” producers decided to kill off his character and there was an on-screen memorial which featured his real mother and brother.
3. Lebo Matlaba
Lebo Matlaba was a very popular South African kwaito singer, actress, and dancer. She was one of the few successful female artists in an industry dominated by males. Lebo started off her career with the popular South African band Boom Shaka in 1994 at the age of 17.
She was frequently compared to the South African singer Brenda Fassie, who was actually her mentor. At the 2000 South African Music Awards, Lebo won three awards for Best Dance Album, Best Kwaito Single, and Best Female Vocalist. She expanded her career into acting along the way and appeared on TV shows including “Muvango,” “Generations,” and “Backstage.”
Lebo passed away in a car crash in 2006, aged 29, after her driver lost control of the Toyota Prado in which they were traveling. In 2019, 18 years after her death, a biopic was released about Matlaba, titled “Tattooed Dream: The Lebo Matlaba Story.” It was released on BET Africa on November 6, 2019.
4. Simba Mhere
Simba Mhere was a TV personality best known for being the presenter of the top-rated TV show “Top Billing” on SABC3. Although he was born in Zimbabwe, he moved to Johannesburg with his family when he was just a year old.
He rose to fame when he joined the popular lifestyle show “Top Billing” in 2010 after winning a televised presenter search. Simba worked as a voice-over artist and a master of ceremonies for some of South Africa’s most prestigious events, including Miss South Africa 2018. With a very bright future ahead of him, Simba passed away in 2015 at just 26 years old from a car crash.
Eyewitness News reported that his Mitsubishi collided with a VW Polo, and their mother survived the crash, but Simba and his friend didn’t make it. The driver of the VW Polo was found guilty on two counts of culpable homicide as well as negligent and reckless driving. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, which Simba’s father said would bring closure to the family.
5. Maruti Mhlali
Maruti Mhlali was one of those eye-candy actresses that you couldn’t help but love. She was famous for her role on “Backstage” and was also the girlfriend of fellow actor Clint Brink. The actress passed away in 2002 after the car she was traveling in with her boyfriend and sister overturned and landed on its roof.
Clint and Maruti’s sister survived the crash, but she passed away at 21 years old. Clint, who was the driver, was charged with culpable homicide, but three years after the incident, he was acquitted on all charges.
6. Senzo Mejiwa
Senzo Mejiwa was a South African footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Orlando Pirates in the Premier Soccer League and also for the South African national team. Details about how he died are somewhat sketchy, but he was shot at his then-girlfriend Kelly Khumalo’s house in October 2014.
Initial reports said that Senzo was shot while trying to defend Kelly Khumalo from a robbery, and a suspect was arrested only for him to be released due to lack of evidence.
It was later revealed that there was never a robbery in the first place, but Senzo was shot by one of the people who was in the house after an argument. Although he was not below the age of 30, he passed away a few months after he had just turned 30 years old.
Former President Jacob Zuma mourned the loss and called for Mejiwa’s killers to be found, but the case is still open to this day. He was given a state funeral which took place at Moses Mabhida Stadium and was attended by his family, friends, and thousands of fans.
His father would later pass away in 2019 while he was still waiting for justice to be served for his son. Over the years, he had complained about the police’s failure to solve his son’s murder.
7. Sizwe Quintana
Sizwe Quintana was an upcoming actor who played the lead role in the movie “Matrix,” which was co-produced by DJ Black Coffee. With a very bright future ahead of him, he passed away at the age of 25, just three months after the movie was released in 2019.
According to the police, the actor and his friend Sebasto Mashishi, who played the role of Horsey on “Muvango,” were attacked by a thief who was demanding their cell phone.
While wrestling with the robber, the actor was stabbed with a sharp object in the upper part of his body. He was certified dead at the scene. At the time of his tragic death, he was studying to become a director and a producer and wanted his work to speak for him.
8. Reeva Steenkamp
Reeva Steenkamp was a South African model. She was the first face of Heaven Cosmetics in South Africa and in 2011, she was ranked number 40 in the 100 Sexiest Women in the World by FHM magazine.
On Valentine’s Day in 2013, Reeva was shot dead by her boyfriend Oscar Pistorius, who said he believed she was an intruder hiding in the bathroom. Oscar was initially sentenced to 6 years in prison, but this was appealed and extended to 13 years in prison.
9. TK Minga
TK Minga was a multi-award-winning South African R&B singer and writer. In her lifetime, she undoubtedly occupied South Africa’s R&B front and was one of the country’s most prominent vocalists.
Her singing star was often compared to that of Mariah Carey, and her looks and stage performances reminded some of Beyoncé. In 2002, she was one of the housemates of Celebrity Big Brother South Africa. On February 26, 2006, she was entertaining a few friends, including Quite Hostile Mendoza, at the hotel where she was staying.
The next day, she was supposed to check out by 11 am, but she didn’t, so the hotel supervisor knocked on her room, and she answered saying she would be leaving soon. When a cleaner returned to the room a few hours later, she found TK dead and covered with a sheet.
Investigations concluded that TK passed away from either a drug overdose or a drug-induced suicide. She was only 27 at the time of her passing, and local newspapers made comparisons between her death and those of the 27 Club, which is a list of popular artists who have passed away at the age of 27.
10. Precious Melanie
Precious was an actress and a presenter, popular for her role as Heroes on “Backstage” and “Generations.” Of all the celebrities on this list, Precious is the only one who passed away from a natural death.
She was a God-fearing young lady and one of those girls you would bring home to meet the parents. It was reported that at one point, she even refused to cooperate when an anti-religious plot was to be introduced to “Generations.” The public was never offered a proper explanation for the cause of her death, but she passed away at the age of 27 after a short illness.
Which of these celebrities do you miss the most? Comment down below and don’t forget to subscribe for more exciting videos.
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