Saba Mbixane Dies at the Age of 54 Following a Motorbike Accident

Popular Umhlobo Wenene FM DJ Saba Mbixane (54) has died after being involved in a motorbike accident earlier this month in his hometown of Mount Frere, Eastern Cape. It is reported that Mbixane sustained critical injuries to his head and was rushed to hospital. He died on Thursday (26th of February) after spending more than two weeks in a critical condition at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha.

Mbixane’s untimely death comes as a great shock to Maskandi music fans and Umhlobo Wenene FM listeners across the country. He had over thirty years of experience as a radio DJ and was considered the most popular traditional DJ in the country especially after winning the Best Traditional DJ Award six times in the South African Traditional Music Achievement Awards (SATMAs), beating popular DJs from big radio stations such as Ukhozi FM. SATMA organizers  expressed their sadness at Mbixane’s death on their Facebook page and described him as a legend of the SATMAS and a hero.

Although Mbixane’s show was on Umhlobo Wenene FM, he had a huge following among Ukhozi FM listeners. On the 7th of February, two days before the accident that ultimately took his life, Mbixane co-hosted Ukhozi FM’s Sigiya Ngengoma with Ngizwe Mchunu. He was very positively received. Some of the listeners enjoyed him so much that they said he should join Ukhozi FM. Little did they know that he was there to say his final goodbye.

Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.