Socialite and ex-husband of the late Brenda Fassie, Nhlanhla Mbambo, passed away yesterday in Durban. He died after a short illness at King Edward Hospital in Durban. Family spokesperson and friend confirmed his death. "Yes, he left us last night and that is all I can confirm for now," said DJ Muntu Khoza.

Mbambo and Fassie got married in 1989 and their wedding will go down in history as one of the best celebrity weddings ever. The wedding is said to have attracted thousands of guests. Yvonne Chaka Chaka was the maid of honour with Mercy Pakela and Rebecca Malope as bridemaids. The marriage between Mbambo and Brenda crumbled after two years when the award-winning songstress claimed that her estranged husband was after her money.

Mbambo was a controversial figure turned businessman. He was sentenced to an effective 10 years in jail in 2000 after he attempted to rob a Hillbrow businessman of his Mercedes-Benz. Mbambo and along with his co-accused at the time, Darius Petlele and Pule Mdluli, were arrested after an extended chase through the streets of Hillbrow. The trio reportedly pointed a gun at Greg Xenopoulos, owner of Fontana Famous Roastery, and pulled the trigger but the gun seized.