Tragedy has struck again for the winner of the South African version of So You Think You Can Dance, Sibahle Tshibika.
|||Cape Town - Tragedy has struck again for the winner of the South African version of So You Think You Can Dance, Sibahle Tshibika, whose aunt died and mother was injured when they were involved in a crash while travelling to the Eastern Cape.
Although details of the crash were still sketchy at the time of going to press, it appears 23-year-old Khayelitsha dancer Sibahle, her mother, Noluthando Tshibika, and her unnamed aunt were travelling from Cape Town to attend the funeral of Sibahle’s grandmother.
It was reported at the time of the dancer’s victory that her triumph had been bittersweet. Soon after her win, she learned that her grandmother had died.
Beatrice Thsibika reportedly collapsed and died while watching the show.
“I was doing this for her,” Sibahle said at the time. “I know she would’ve been proud of me.”
Then, about three weeks ago, the family faced a new trauma when they were said to have gone into hiding.
The family had been warned by three people that they had heard that kidnappers had targeted Sibahle, and that she would be held to ransom for her R250 000 prize money.
Sibahle said at that time that the threats would likely mean she wouldn’t be able to attend her grandmother’s funeral.
“I’m supposed to be at home… but I can’t even pay my respects to my grandmother. I am scared of attending prayer meetings at my own home,” she was quoted as saying.
Efforts to contact Sibahle proved fruitless on Saturday night, but it is understood that she was not hurt in the crash.
Weekend Argus