Remembering Chiskop members who died: the untold stories of kwaito legends
Chiskop members who died were a pioneering old school kwaito group from Zola, Soweto, known for shaping the genre in the 1990s and early 2000s. The band's last surviving member, Siphiwe 'General GTZ' Sibisi, passed away in September 2024, marking the end of an era.
Source: Twitter
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Chiskop, meaning baldhead, was a four-member kwaito band from the 1990s formed by childhood friends from Soweto.
- The bandmates, including Mduduzi 'Mandoza' Tshabalala, Sibusiso 'SB-Bless' Thanjekwayo, Sizwe 'Lollipop' Motaung, and Siphiwe 'General GTZ' Sibisi, passed away between 2003 and 2024.
- They were known for energetic performances and socially conscious lyrics in a generation navigating post-apartheid South Africa.
The legendary Chiskop members
Mandoza, SB Bless, Lollipop, and General GTZ were friends who grew up in Zola, Soweto, the largest township in South Africa. They formed the Chiskop kwaito group when they were teenagers and were discovered by the legendary Arthur Mafokate.
SB-Bless and Lollipop were the first Chiskop members to die
Chiskop's SB-Bless (Sibusiso Thanjekwayo) and Lollipop (Sizwe Motaung) passed away in 2003. Their unfortunate deaths came just before the kwaito band released their final album, Sunday.
Lollipop and SB-Bless's cause of death was not made public. Their untimely passing led to the indefinite breakup of the band, but their names are still remembered for their influence on kwaito.
Mandoza
Source: Twitter
- Real name: Mduduzi Thembinkosi Edmund Tshabalala
- Date of birth: January 1978
- Date of death: September 18, 2016
- Age at death: 38 years old
Mandoza started singing as a teenager in the 1990s. He became a national icon as part of Chiskop and as a solo artist with hits like Nkalakatha, Tornado, Sgelekeqe, Uzoythola Kanjani, and Respect Life. He used music to transcend racial divides in a post-apartheid South Africa by singing in English, Zulu, Afrikaans, and Xhosa.
Mduduzi continued to perform amid his battle with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a rare type of throat cancer. The multi-award-winning kwaito legend died in September 2016 after the cancer metastasised to the brain.
Source: Getty Images
The singer was survived by his wife, Mpho Mputhi Tshabalala, whom he married in 2002. The couple welcomed four children, including Tokollo, Tumelo, and Karabo.
Mandoza was posthumously honoured with the SAMA29 Lifetime Achievement Award in November 2023. His six-part biopic, Nkalakatha: The Life of Mandoza, premiered on BET in August 2023. The singer's wife, Mpho, is also keeping his legacy alive through the Mandoza Foundation.
General GTZ
Source: Twitter
- Real name: Simphiwe Sibisi
- Date of death: September 29, 2024
- Age at death: 49 years old
- Children: Zamokuhle Sibisi Mguli, Nombuso Sibisi, Lwandisiwe Sibisi
- Siblings: Jabulile Sibisi (sister)
Chiskop's General GTZ was the last surviving member of the legendary kwaito band. He passed away in September 2024 from complications related to a stomach cancer surgery. General GTZ had been ill since 2018.
The Soweto-born singer is remembered for being a supportive figure in the industry. He rose to fame in the 1990s with the Chiskop band as they released songs that spoke to township youth.
Source: Twitter
As a solo artist, General GTZ released several albums, including Thatha Zonke (2002), Ngifuna iMali Yam Cash (2009), and Soweto Afterparty (2017). His later work infused several genres with kwaito, including jazz, soul, and Afro-pop. He told Sowetan Live in 2009 that he evolved from old-school kwaito to keep up with fans' demand.
This is a response to some of the fans of Chiskop. They have moved on in life, and their music taste has moved with them. They are no longer interested in the type of kwaito music they used to listen to when they were young. In a way, I am growing with them.
Source: Instagram
Chiskop left a lasting legacy in kwaito
Mandoza, SB Bless, Lolipop, and General GTZ were among the early artists to make kwaito a national sound during the genre's formative years in the 1990s. The Soweto-born stars created lyrics that resonated with the daily lives of young South Africans, especially those from the country's townships.
The Chiskop members made kwaito a cultural movement with hits like Klaimer (1996), Abasazi, and Abantwana. Their genre-defining albums included Akusheshi (1996), Zonke Bonke (1998), Relax (1999), Ghetto 2000 (1999), Phambili Phezulu (2001), and Sunday (2003).
The 1990s had other influential kwaito groups, including Boom Shaka, Trompies, and TKZee. Legendary artists like Arthur Mafokate and M'du Masilela were also leading pioneers who helped popularise the genre.
Their work paved the way for modern kwaito stars like Zola, Big Nuz, and DJ Tira. The current generation is revolutionising the sound by doing a crossover with Gqom, Afro-house music, and other popular genres.
Source: Instagram
Conclusion
The Chiskop members may have died, but their music remains influential in South African kwaito culture. Their legacy lives on through the artists they inspired and the genre they helped create.
READ MORE: Top 15 most famous South African bands of all time: Where are they now?
Briefly.co.za highlighted some of South Africa's iconic bands and their influence. Influential music groups from the country have included Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Mango Groove, Fokofpolisiekar, and Freshlyground.
The bands popularised South African sounds on the global stage. Some fused local styles with international genres like rock, jazz, hip-hop, and electronic.
Source: Briefly News
