Former Ukhozi FM DJ Vukani “Chilli M” Masinga has is dead, a close friend of the star confirmed to reporters.
Vukani Masinga, popularly known as Chilli M, was rushed to a Johannesburg hospital where he died of natural causes, three people have confirmed.
Kaya FM radio presenters Thabo Mokwele and Macfarlane Moleli confirmed the news of Chilli’s M’s passing on their Twitter accounts while Isaac Sithole, a close friend of the experienced radio presenter, said he would be buried next week Saturday 11 January.
“He died from natural causes. The family plans to bury him next week Saturday,” he said.
Fans have flooded social media with tributes to the star, with friends and colleagues recounting their shared moments.
Chilli M started off his radio career at YFM where he quickly built a name for himself as an entertaining shock jock. Together with fashion entrepreneur and reality TV actress Dineo Ranaka, the pair hosted the Essential Rush breakfast show.
He also co-produced the smash hit Amerido with DJ Tira. The two later fell out, with Chilli M stating that he felt used by Tira as the Afrotainment record label owner had cut contact with him after the song’s musical success.
Chilli M lost his daughter, Nkanyezi in 2015, after She was killed in a car accident while returning from a family holiday.
The next year, he was axed by Ukhozi FM after he admitted to taking a bribe from an aspiring kwaito group. He later explained that he did so because he had been having money problems since the death of his daughter.
“Every company has its own policies. I went against SABC policy and I paid the price. I was tempted because I had lost my daughter and was in financial distress‚” he told Daily Sun.
