South African rapper Riky Rick dies

South African rapper and producer Riky Rick, real name Rikhado Makhado, has died, at the age of thirty-four.

Rikhado’s family confirmed the devastating news on Wednesday in a statement sent to South African publication, TshisaLIVE.

"The family of South African artist Riky Rick with profound sadness this afternoon confirmed his untimely passing. Son, husband, father, brother and uncle, Riky ‘Ricky’ Makhado (34) sadly passed away in the early hours of this morning (February 23) in Johannesburg," read the statement.

According to an unnamed DJ who spoke to South Africa’s True Love, the rapper allegedly took his own life after battling depression for a long time.

“He suffered from depression for a while before deciding to take his own life. He was found hanging by friends,” said the DJ.

Rick had opened up about his struggle with depression through 'Lab Live' podcast after the death of his father in 2020. 

“I lost my father at a time when I needed the help. I lost him at a time when I needed that voice. A lot of people don’t understand that you can never replace the voice of a father,” he said then.

“It wasn’t like he just died, it was like 18 years, living with your dad for a year, and then going back to your mom. I love being with my mom but living with him for a year. A child is never meant to live without his parents.”

The news of the star’s death shocked many as early Wednesday morning he had taken to Twitter to posty: “I’ll return a stronger man. This land is still my home.”

He will be remembered for great hits such as ‘Amantombazana’, ‘Boss Zonke’ and ‘Sidlukhotini’ which cemented his place in the South African rap culture.

He is survived by a wife and two children.

Riky Ricky has since been mourned by a host of Kenyan rappers, among them King Kaka and Khaligraph Jones.

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