Daily Sun (June 9 2015) - “LIPHI ITIYE lami?” Sompisi will never ask Mam Ruby for tea again.
FROM NOW ON, MADALA TIKI WILL ENJOY HIS TEA IN HEAVEN.
Madala Tiki Nxumalo, known as Sompisi in Generations, was found dead outside the toilet at his house yesterday morning.
“I got a call at about 6am from Tiki’s neighbours,” said his sister-in-law, Nelisiwe Nxumalo (59).
“They said I should come to his house immediately.”
Nelisiwe said she suspected something was seriously wrong.
“I called other family members to go with me. We found him lying dead on the toilet floor. We think he had been vomiting all night as we found a bucket of vomit in his bedroom. Perhaps he went outside to call on the man renting a room in his yard to help him or he went to the toilet, which is where he collapsed and died,” she said.
“Neighbours told us Tiki had told them on Sunday afternoon that he wasn’t feeling well.”
His death came at a time when he was expected to feature in the new SABC1 drama series Uzalo.
Nelisiwe said Tiki kept to himself. She said he suffered from asthma from a young age.
“He lived alone in his house and he would never tell us if he was sick or troubled by anything.”
Tiki’s brother, Simon Nxumalo (77) said they were very proud of him because he was the first of family to appear on television.
“He started acting at a young age. It was always his passion.
“Through him we were respected in the area,” said Simon.
“He had a bubbly personality. We will miss him dearly. He told us he had done some shoots for Uzalo and we were looking forward to seeing him on the show.”
Last year, Daily Sun ran a story about Tiki at the Kwa-
Dabeka Amphitheatre, where he confessed he had dropped out of school in grade 4, which made his life difficult.
He encouraged upcoming actors to study before pursuing a career in acting.
“You must be able to read contracts so you don’t get ripped off,” he had told the audience.
Tiki was also popular in the KFC commercial.
His acting career goes back to the days of old Zulu dramas such as Iphi Intombi and Mamgobhozi.
He was involved in many theatre projects around the country. Family members said he had two children but they did not live with him.
KZN SAPS media centre said Lamontville police had a report regarding his death.
“A report was made and he was taken to the mortuary in a private mortuary van. No case was opened,” said the police.
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