WATCH: Dingaan Thobela’s children’s farewell speech at funeral
Dingaan Thobela Junior and his sister, Ntombi paid tribute to their legendary father, Dingaan Thobela at his funeral on Thursday.
Legendary boxer Dingaan Thobela’s children bid him farewell at his funeral on Thursday, 9 May.
Thobela lost his fight to an undisclosed illness on Monday, 29 April in his flat in Mayfair, Johannesburg.
DINGAAN THOBELA JNR: ‘HIS HEART WAS BIG’
The late boxer’s son, Dingaan Thobela Junior thanked everyone for attending his father’s funeral and for supporting him.
“Thank you to those who showed unconditional love and support for our father. His heart was as big as his personality and touched anyone who meets him.”
Thobela’s son adds that his father’s laugh was infectious and filled the room. One couldn’t help but laugh with him. He adds that his jokes were cool and would randomly become dad jokes.
“As Dingaan Thobela, he was a father, as a rose of Soweto he was a hero. To his fans, supporters and boxing fraternity, thank you for shaping him.”
eNCA reports that the 57-year-old boxer’s funeral service was held at the Dlamini Multipurpose Hall in Soweto this morning. @Newzroom405 reports that he was laid to rest at the West Park Cemetery in Johannesburg today.
[WATCH ENTIRE SPEECH FROM 1:57:46]DINGAAN’S EX-WIFE: ‘HE DID NOT TELL HIS CHILDREN’
Dingaan Thobela’s ex-wife and mother of his children, Sandra tells Sowetan that his children didn’t know where he lived.
Sandra and Dingaan have two children, a daughter called Ntombi, who is attending university in Spain, and a son named Dingaan Junior.
Speaking to the publication this week, Sandra says the biggest issue was that Dingaan did not tell his children where he stayed. She told him that he must tell his children where he stays before he died.
Thobela’s ex-wife also adds that his children are not okay and she’s not okay. She will do her best to make sure that she brings his children back home.
She shares blood with Dingaan Thobela and she’s heart broken by his passing.
Sunday World reported in 2014 that Sandra claimed Dingaan fathered three children out of wedlock with a Johannesburg woman.
When she discovered this, she was devastated because she never thought he would betray her like that.
#DingaanThobela is survived by his parents Godfrey Thobela and Maina Mahlangu, his 9 siblings, 14 children and 9 grandchildren.
Out of his 56 fights, he won 40 (26 by KOs) and lost 14.
His career highlight was in 2000 when he won the WBC super middleweight title.#CityPress pic.twitter.com/LXFaZYGt74— Tiisetso Malepa (@TiisetsoMalepa) May 9, 2024
SOUTH AFRICANS PAY TRIBUTE TO LATE BOXER
@zulu066: “His career highlight was in 2000? I remember crossbow cider fights at his prime.”
@NicoMasango: “Lucky to be having both parents alive at his age. Pity and heartbreaking they have to bury him instead. The father looks like him.”
@General_Sport7: “May his strong soul rest in internal peace. Spent couple of nights and mornings watching his fights live on TV.”
@no1commentator: “They say never meet your heroes to avoid disappointment, but I did and Dingaan Thobela was fabulous. He was a bright, funny and articulate boxing world champion. His legacy lives on. May he RIP.”
The parents of Dingaan Thobela at the funeral service of their son ,with mourners at the Dlamini hall,Soweto. #RIPDingaanThobela @jozifm pic.twitter.com/VGTuk7jOrm
— Themba Tshabalala (@Themba_TT) May 9, 2024
