She Was My Protector

Kwaito sensation Mshoza doesn’t know how she’ll cope without her greatest supporter – her mother

- Thembisile Makgalemele

SHE cuts a lonely figure as she sits nestled between her two sisters, their gazes fixed on the coffin taking centre stage at the Apostolic Faith Mission Church in Protea North, Soweto. Nomasonto “Mshoza” Maswanganyi, who burst onto the kwaito scene with her hit song Kortes along with her energetic pantsula moves, is a shadow of her former self as she bids farewell to her mother, Gloria Maswanganyi Mafuma (60).

Affectionately known as MaGlory, the single mom and former police officer’s casket is draped in the South African flag, while colleagues from the South African Police Services’ VIP unit, which guards government buildings and ministers, form an honorary guard around it. Dressed in a modest black dress, black stockings, ankle boots and hat with glistening studs, Mshoza and her sisters, Thandi and Dudu, listen attentively as speaker after speaker pays tribute to their mother.

“We are here to celebrate Gloria Maswanganyi’s life,” says Colonel Robert Madzhie, who worked with MaGlory from 2009. “We will always know and remember there was a person like Gloria who was part of us. Whenever there was someone with a problem, MaGlory took it upon herself to assist the person.”

Mshoza knows this too well and says she’ll miss her mother’s kindness. It’s been a tough time for the singer: not only has she lost her mother and biggest supporter, but she’s also battling poor health. “We were close. She has always been there for me – she protected me when people were mocking me about lightening my skin,” says Mshoza, whose love of plastic surgery and skin lightening treatments is well docu­mented.

“She encouraged me and told me, ‘My child, for as long as you are happy, continue to live your life’.”