Acceptance, love and teaching: Khanyi Mbau and Lasizwe on their dad

TV personalities Khanyi Mbau and Lasizwe Dambuza are grieving the death of their father, Menzi Mcunu.

The pair announced the news on their social media accounts on Sunday.

Khanyi shared a picture of herself and her father, which she simply captioned: “Rest in peace dad.”

The two have never shied away from opening up about their relationship with their father  - from how it shaped their relationships with men to his influence on their businesses and relationship with money.

Here are three times Khanyi and Lasizwe opened up about their father:

Shattered

The YouTube star said the death of his father is a sad reminder of the fact that he is now orphaned. 

“My last alive parent, my dad has passed on. I am numb and so confused! I am shattered! First my mom, now my dad,” his post read in part.

Lasizwe said that his dad accepted him and loved him in a birthday tribute.

"Thank you for great looks. Thank you for paying my school fees. Thank you for loving me and thank you for accepting me for who I am. I love you daddy," he said.

Money

In an interview with Real Talk, Khanyi said she saw her father often when she was growing up, even though her parents were not married.

She said her family never allowed him inside the house because he had not paid "the damages", which is required in the Zulu tradition for children born out of wedlock, so he would wait for her in his car outside her house. 

“The family did not allow him in, but he always came to see me - like a boyfriend. He would park his car outside and sit next to him in the left seat. He would bring me ice cream, toys, sit with me for like two hours and then drive away.”

She said her father, who was a taxi owner, introduced her to money.

“I was allowed to visit my dad over the holidays. Whenever the taxis were done working for the day, he would let us count the money. He felt that as a young child if you're surrounded by money, you will understand it - it will get used to you, you will get used to it,” she said.

Persistence

In a candid interview with Mac G, Khanyi said her father always encouraged and pushed her to be her best. 

"I've always aimed for the best because I am the best. It comes from my dad. He is Zulu and he is unimpressed by everything. I could bring my car and he'll still say, 'Yeah, but it's not a 2020.' I'd invite him to school and he'd say, 'Yeah, but that girl got 8 and you have 5 trophies.'

"It was always 'aim for the best or don't come home'."