Kwaito star becomes church pastor

Randburg – Founding member of legendary kwaito group TKZee, and also solo artist Kabelo Mabalane has become a pastor at the Rhema Bible Church in Randburg

  Mabalane was ordained as a pastor last Sunday at the church, in a ceremony that was attended by his wife, actress Gail Mabalane.

  Mabalane has been with the church since 2005, starting as an usher.

   He said there are certain processes to go through. “It’s not like you go through a process like you write exams. People need to see you walking in and out; and wanting to serve God and his people. What happened on Sunday at the ordination is something that had happened in my heart a long time ago. It was just a matter of making it official and bestowing the title upon me,” Mabalane said.

  The artiste has come a long way since he admitted drug addiction and seeking help.

  In his 2015 memoir, I ran for my life, Mabalane went in detail about his drug addiction. He started experimenting with drugs as a youngster who had nothing else to do. After dropping out of Wits, he spent a lot of time in Diepkloof using drugs with other young men.

  “Having disappointed my parents in the academics department, it put a lot of pressure on me. I wanted to forget about my failures and escape,” he said.

  When his music career took off, he could afford drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy.

  “It wasn’t so much the drugs that helped me create, it was the insecurity with facing other talented musicians in the industry and the producers,” he said.

  Mabalane founded TKZee in 1996 with Tokollo Shabalala and Zwai Bala. They are known for hits such as Shibobo, Fiasco and Palafala.