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Celebrities who died of depression in south africa: Gone but not forgotten!
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Celebrities who died of depression in south africa: Gone but not forgotten!

by  Peris Walubengo 4 min read

The list of celebrities who died of depression rolls out on the ground like a scroll. Celebrities who died of depression in South Africa alone are more than a handful, which is enough to tell the criticality of the situation. This mental disorder is one of the top factors taking our stars at such young ages.

Celebrities who died of depression in south africa: Gone but not forgotten!
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Source: UGC

For many people in the limelight, especially celebrities in the entertainment industry, dealing with this mental disorder in the public eye is difficult. The pressures and expectations that come with their line of work, including evolving and staying relevant, take a toll on them.

Celebrities who died of depression

Depression has claimed the lives of many of our stars. This mental disorder causes significant impairment in a person's daily life and does not discriminate among people. Here are some of SA celebrities who died of depression.

1. Shoki Mokgapa

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Celebrities who died of depression in south africa: Gone but not forgotten!
Image: facebook.com, @awkwardactress
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The award-winning actress is among SA actors who died of depression. Shoki Mokgapa committed suicide after struggling with clinical depression and anxiety for a long time. The 34-year-old actress took her own life on Tuesday, 25th September 2018. She was best known for her roles in Ashes To Ashes and Intersexions.

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2. Jabulani Tsambo, ‘HHP’

Celebrities who died of depression in south africa: Gone but not forgotten!
Image: facebook.com, @HHP
Source: UGC

The hip-hop legend committed suicide at his house in October 2018, just a month after Shoki Mokgapa’s death. It is said that the last words of the 38-year old rapper were, “I’m depressed. I'm going out of control. I'm losing it.” HHP was on a promotional radio tour when he took his own life. He had just released his EP Feels Good To Be Back through Universal Music.

3. Khensani Maseko

Celebrities who died of depression in south africa: Gone but not forgotten!
Image: facebook.com, @Marist Brothers Linmeyer
Source: UGC

The 23-year old activist and Rhodes University student took her own life after allegedly being raped by her boyfriend. Khensani committed suicide in 2018 and had sought help prior to her death. She reached out to Keri Perumal from Nkoli-Fassie, an organization dealing with diverse issues, including sexual assault.

4. Nichume Siwundla

Celebrities who died of depression in south africa: Gone but not forgotten!
Image: facebook.com, @EThekwini Municipality
Source: UGC

The 27-year old rising star and house vocalist committed suicide in 2019, just a month after celebrating her birthday. The news came as a shock, especially to her family, who considered her a solid character. Nichume was featured in chart-topping hits like Bhutiza, Daydreaming, and Far Away.

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5. Thapelo Lehuleri (DJ Lara Kruger)

Celebrities who died of depression in south africa: Gone but not forgotten!
Image: facebook.com, @Expresso Morning Show - SABC 3
Source: UGC

The radio DJ is among South African celebrities who died of depression in 2018. It was said that Thapelo was not in a happy place and suffered from mental disorder. This led her into a dark abyss that made her take her own life.

Frequently asked questions

A lot of questions surround the topic of depression. However, some questions are often asked more than others. This mental disorder is a vital topic that sparks curiosity. Here are some of the frequently asked questions.

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What famous person has depression?

While there are celebrities who unfortunately died of this mental disorder, others struggle with it daily. Some of them talk candidly about their struggle with depression, while others find it difficult to open up. Here are some of the celebrities who have suffered from depression:

1. Trevor Noah

Celebrities who died of depression in south africa: Gone but not forgotten!
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Source: UGC

2. iFani

Celebrities who died of depression in south africa: Gone but not forgotten!
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Source: UGC

3. Salamina Mosese

Celebrities who died of depression in south africa: Gone but not forgotten!
Image: Getty Images, Salamina Mosese
Source: UGC

4. Minnie Dlamini

Celebrities who died of depression in south africa: Gone but not forgotten!
Image: facebook.com, @Minnie Dlamini
Source: UGC

5. Lalla Hirayama

Celebrities who died of depression in south africa: Gone but not forgotten!
Image: Getty Images, Lalla Hirayama
Source: UGC

6. Penny Lebyane

Celebrities who died of depression in south africa: Gone but not forgotten!
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Source: UGC

7. Nomvelo Makhanya

Celebrities who died of depression in south africa: Gone but not forgotten!
Image: facebook.com, @Nomvelo Makhanya
Source: UGC

8. Lady Gaga

Celebrities who died of depression in south africa: Gone but not forgotten!
Image: Getty Images, Lady Gaga
Source: UGC

9. Katy Perry

Celebrities who died of depression in south africa: Gone but not forgotten!
Image: Getty Images, Katy Perry
Source: UGC

10. Dwayne Johnson

Celebrities who died of depression in south africa: Gone but not forgotten!
Image: Getty Images, Dwayne Johnson
Source: UGC

How many deaths are caused by depression?

It is estimated that close to 800,000 people die due to suicide every year. Over 50 percent of all people who die by suicide suffer from major depression. This mental disorder is a critical topic discussed worldwide, with 264 million people worldwide affected by it.

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This article remembers celebrities who died of depression in South Africa. The illness has led to the creation of social movements worldwide to create awareness of the mental disorder. The hope is to reach as many people as possible and help them fight depression and preserve their lives.

Briefly.co.za, on 6th December 2019, listed South African celebrities who lost their lives that year. The article paid tribute to those celebrities who died and whose lives had impacted ours. As life is never certain, theirs was not that year, leaving behind broken hearts.

Some celebrities include Andile Gumbi, a theatre actor, who suffered from cardiac arrest and succumbed days later. Dan Tshanda, a musical trailblazer, suffered from heart failure just before celebrating his son's matric results.

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Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Peris Walubengo avatar

Peris Walubengo (Lifestyle writer) Peris Walubengo is a content creator with 5 years of experience writing articles, researching, editing, and proofreading. She has a Bachelor of Commerce & IT from the University of Nairobi and joined Briefly.co.za in November 2019. The writer completed a Google News Initiate Course. She covers bios, marketing & finance, tech, fashion & beauty, recipes, movies & gaming reviews, culture & travel. You can email her at perisrodah254@gmail.com.

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