Worrying video of ex-Soweto Gospel Choir star emerges

Avideo of former Soweto Gospel Choir singer Lehakwe Crystal Tlali roaming the streets and appearing worse for wear has gone viral.

The talented star was known for her rendition of the popular song Modimo Re Boka Wena.

On TikTok, content creator Jerry Maya posted a video of Lehakwe Tlali roaming the streets of Qwaqwa in the Free State.

Maya – who works for the Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, came across the gospel singer while attending an event.

“This is Lekahoe [Lehakwe] Tlali. She used to sing for the Soweto Gospel Choir. Please help her”, he captioned the heartbreaking video.

In the clip, Lehakwe appeared barefoot, dishevelled, and with a cigarette in her hand.

Singing for the camera, the woman admitted to once being a famous singer.

According to the Sowetan, Lehakwe Tlali was part of the Soweto Gospel Choir, which won two Grammy awards in 2007 and 2008 for Best Traditional World Music Album.

In 2004, Lehakwe was interviewed by the Manchester Evening News during the choir’s UK tour.

Lehakwe revealed that she was just 16 when she joined the choir and that she had been singing since the age of three.

She said: “I send money home to my mother. When I was young, we survived because I went out on to the streets to sing.

“My mother was on her own – my father left when I was very small – so I used what God gave me to help us eat and keep a roof over our heads.

At the time, Lehakwe had travelled with the Soweto Gospel Choir to Europe, Asia, and Australia.

She said of her rise to fame: “I can’t believe what’s happened to me. When I was on stage with Bono and Anastasia, I thought I was dreaming. When I met Nelson Mandela, my heart nearly stopped. I never thought I would leave my hometown, let alone my country.

It’s unclear when Lehakwe left the Soweto Gospel Choir and what transpired thereafter.