South African Celebrities Who Tragically Died on the Job: DJ Poizen, Malome Vector, and Others

• South Africa mourned the loss of DJ Poizen, who passed away in a car crash on Saturday, 30 August 2025
• His death added to the heartbreaking list of South African musicians who passed away on the road
• The list includes a two-year-old dancer, as well as other up-and-coming talents who passed away in an accident that claimed Killer Kau and Mpura

South Africa was plunged into mourning following the passing of DJ Poizen in a car accident on Saturday, 30 August 2025. His passing adds to the growing list of South African artists who died on their way to a gig or returning from one.

DJ Poizen died aged 35 in a car accident while returning from a gig with DJ Chymamusique.

Mzansi artists who died on the way to or from gigs

Briefly News compiled a list of South African artists who passed away while returning from a gig or going to one.

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On Sunday, 3 August 2025, renowned maskandi artist Sibonelo Hlongwane tragically lost four of his dancers in a horrific car accident that occurred on their way from Bergville, KZN midlands to Johannesburg. The dancers were travelling from Skhiye Se Cold Room Housewarming in Bergville, where they had performed on Saturday, 2 August 2025. Among the deceased were Sibonelo Hlongwane’s two-year-old popular dancer, Mnotho "Nkunzavava" Mngomezulu, who had recently joined the band as the youngest dancer.

Other dancers who passed away were Sthabiso Mahlangu, Musa Mngomezulu, and Lungelo Makhunga.

The accident happened when the red Nissan Magnite they were travelling in was involved in a head-on collision with a VW Polo. The four dancers and another person died at the scene.

On 24 July 2024, versatile rapper Malome Vector passed away while travelling to Lesotho after wrapping up a video shoot in Gauteng. The accident, which also claimed the lives of his two collaborators, Lizwi Wokuqala and music video director Da Mos, happened on the N1 near the Koppies turn-off in the Free State. The incident occurred after Malome Vector’s car collided with a heavy truck.

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Mzansi lost the talented Killer Kau and Mpura on 7 August 2021. The duo was involved in a car crash on their way from a gig in Rustenberg, North West.

The accident also robbed South Africa of the talents of up-and-coming artists DJ Thando Tot, Khanya "The Voice" Hadebe, and TD.

South African musicians who survived car accidents

Meanwhile, Briefly News reported that DJ Chymamusique, who was in the same car as DJ Poizen, survived and was admitted to an intensive care unit at an undisclosed hospital.

Another musician who survived a car accident is Kaylow. The singer survived a car accident in September 2024 that left him with major injuries. Kaylow broke his pelvis and suffered significant damage to the bones supporting his legs. He was confined to a wheelchair for months.

Maskandi star Mdumazi Mhlongo, who's also a member of the duo Abasokhalweni, survived a horrific car crash while travelling after a performance in Dundee, KZN, in June 2024.

Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News