Her reality show was a hit. Late singer and songwriter Bulelwa "Zahara" Mkutukana bagged season one of her reality show titled Zahara - As I Rise, which followed her journey of restoration and healing from all she has encountered since her childhood and entering the music industry. The reality series gave viewers an intimate view into her life and showed underneath the bubbly persona masked by a glass of alcohol every day. How she lost everything after leaving TS Records and how she was fighting to fix her life as a daughter, sister, and soon-to-be wife. But she died before she could shoot the second season.

BACK TO REALITY

Zahara passed on in December just before she could complete her deal with the SABC to shoot the second season of her reality show which was meant to air this year. A family member tells ZiMoja that the singer was still in talks with the SABC and that everything was going well until she fell ill. "She wanted to shoot the new season and show the lobola celebration and everything. But she became ill. She collapsed on the day of the lobola and things took a turn. But the SABC has approached the family and they have agreed to continue with the show."

INCLUDE HER FIANCE

The family member says they plan to show life before she fell ill, narrate what happened during the time she fell ill, and life after her passing. "It has not been easy. There has been a lot of speculation and conflicts which will be cleared," he says. "The family doesn't know much about show business. but they are getting guidance from people like Vusi Nova who was one of her best friends,". The family member says they hope that Zahara's fiancé Mpho Xaba will get a chance to tell his side of the story. "He has been painted out to be a bad guy. If the family could allow him to be part of the show because he is an integral part of her last days, it would be fair to give him a chance to speak about what they had." Zahara died on 11 December 2023 after being hospitalised for a month for what was reported to be liver complications. Zahara's mom, Nokhaya Mkutukana tells ZiMoja that they are taking things one day at a time. "God is good. We will heal. We don't want our daughter's story to go untold. She was our pillar of strength. We are still in talks with the SABC. We are from the rural area thina, we don't know these things, but people will help guide us so we can go about it the right way."