While gospel artist Solly Moholo was laid to rest earlier today, commentator and TV presenter JJ Tabane didn't mince his words when he said the failure to meet the R700 000 needed to pay for the late gospel artist's medical bills was a failure by South Africans.

SA FAILED HIM 

During his speech at the funeral service held at Akasia Hall, Tabane went gun blazing saying that it was a shame that Solly Moholo was unable to pay his medical costs. "So no one could sign a cheque's of R700 000? As black people, have we given up on ourselves to help an icon? We failed to raise R700,000. I think it's a bloody shame. We have failed to help Solly as a nation,' he said.

FAMILY LEFT WITH HOSPITAL BILLS

Moholo's son-in-law, Lesego Nkitseng, explained to mourners why the crowd funding was needed. He said that they had him transferred to a private hospital after they repatriated him from a Botswana hospital to have brain surgery. He was placed in the ICU, where he had brain surgery. "Unfortunately, the first operation was not successful. That's why we pleaded for funds from the public," he said. He also explained that they didn't manage to raise the R700,000 they needed. Instead, they amassed only R100,000. He added: "We were hurt as a family of the icon when we asked for donations and the public did not respond. That's how he ended up in a public hospital. We also learnt that we owe the public hospital R93 000 for his stay there. We didn't even know that people pay in government hospitals; it was a shock to us as a family. Nkitseng also said that they still owe medical bills at the private hospital where Moholo had his first surgery. Moholo was laid to rest at the Zandfontein Cemetery in Tshwane today. He also pleaded with ANC's first deputy Secretary-General Nomvula Mokonyane who was at the funeral, to help with the public hospital bill.