Former boxing champion Dingaan Thobela, fondly known as the "Rose of Soweto," has passed away at the age of 57. His death comes after that of former SA welterweight champion Joseph Makaringe, who passed away after a short illness over a week ago

It is said that Thobela's The lifeless body was discovered in his apartment in Mayfair, Johannesburg, this evening after he had fallen ill. A close friend, Eddie Mutungutu has confirmed his passing. "I struggled to reach him on his mobile and I was worried. I then contacted his family to gain access to his apartment, and we found he was no more." 

The retired boxer has been ill for some time according to a friend, but was working on recovering. The three-world title champion from Soweto was meant to attend a boxing event last week but could not due to ill health. 

He was the third child out of eight children on his father's side. Born in Soweto, the boxer was raised by his grandmother after being left by his mother when he was three months old. He learned boxing after being bullied by older children, as a way of defending himself. With the guidance of Norman Have, who taught him that he could be a professional boxer, he won his first national title before turning professional in June 1986. After two fights, which he won, he moved to campaigning at the lightweight level toward a world title shot. With over three decades of boxing experience he had retired, however, was still involved in the world of boxing. He worked with the late boxer, Lehlo Ledwaba running a gym called Hitachi, in Soweto, which is now being managed by his former trainer and mentor Norman Hlabane. Dingaan also owned a funeral home. He is survived four children.