South African music icon and revered uncle of Kwaito, Oscar ‘Oskido’ Mdlongwa, revealed on social media that he is mourning the loss of his father to the deadly coronavirus (Covid-19).
Oskido shares unfortunate news about his father
At this time, it is unclear how Esaph Mdlongwa contracted the virus but after a short battle, he succumbed to the respiratory disease that has claimed more than 18 000 South African lives.
On Twitter, Oskido paid tribute to his father, describing him as “a great man who inspired me to understand the value of life.”
“So long Mdala, rest well. I will see you again in the next lifetime. You’ve shown us a way & shone the light Akwehlanga lungehlanga,” the Kalawa Jazmee founder wrote in the tweet.
SA government extends lockdown period
The death of Oskido’s father comes at a day after the South African government extended the national state of disaster by an extra month, marking its new expiry date to 15 November 2020.
The move to Alert Level 1 was, in part, motivated by the country’s high recovery rate which, as of Thursday 15 October 2020, has risen to 90%.
This has not removed the threat of the virus, though. People are still urged to protect the vulnerable and wear masks in public and also remember to sanitise their hands as frequently as possible.
Let’s not forget the basics in protecting elderly from Covid-19
Elderly people like Esaph, and those with pre-existing conditions, are at greater risk of succumbing to the virus.
The festive season is around the corner and fears are mounting of a second wave. Therefore, it is imperative that health protocols are adhered to at all times.
Burial arrangements for Oskido’s father have yet to be communicated. We will post updates on this once they have been communicated.