Popular content creator Ntombifuthi “Alabaster” Zwane, affectionately known to her followers as Cijimpi, has been laid to rest in KwaZulu-Natal following a funeral attended by family, friends and well-known personalities who came to pay their final respects.
Cijimpi, 40, was a vocal and outspoken content creator whose unfiltered personality made her a recognisable figure online. Away from her social media persona, however, those close to her say she carried pain that was not always visible to her audience.
Her death has left those who knew her reflecting on the struggles she spoke about during her life, including the rejection she experienced over her sexuality.
Mthandeni pays tribute
Among those who attended Cijimpi’s funeral was Maskandi star Mthandeni “SK” Manqele, who took a moment to address the grieving family and mourners.
Known primarily for communicating through his music, Mthandeni said he did not consider himself a person of many words.
“I am not a talkative person, I am known for singing. But I would like to share my condolences to the family and loved ones,” Mthandeni said.
His presence at the funeral highlighted the impact Cijimpi had beyond her immediate family and online audience.
For those who knew her, the funeral was not simply a farewell to a social media personality, but an opportunity to remember Ntombifuthi as a person who had endured difficult experiences away from the cameras.
The pain behind the outspoken Cijimpi
While Cijimpi was known for her strong opinions and willingness to speak her mind, a friend revealed that she had also spoken openly about experiencing rejection because of her sexuality.
The friend said Cijimpi had shared deeply personal experiences about being judged and rejected by people and institutions that were supposed to offer her a sense of belonging.
“She spoke openly about being kicked out of the church for her sexuality. How she was rejected, and suffered,” the friend said.
The revelation has added another dimension to the public understanding of Cijimpi’s life.
Her online presence was often loud, confident and unapologetic, but the friend’s account suggests that behind that confidence was someone who had experienced painful rejection.
A woman who used humour to hide her pain
Cijimpi’s brother, Sandile Zwane, previously described a different side of the woman audiences encountered online.
He said her social media persona, which could include swearing and confrontational exchanges, did not necessarily represent the person she was in her private life.
“She was a content creator who often swore at people, including family members, in her videos, but that was not who she really was.
“She was humble and respectful. She was simply creating content,” he said.
Sandile also said Cijimpi could use humour to disguise when she was struggling.
“She would joke even during serious situations. If you didn’t know her well, you wouldn’t realise she was hurting,” he said.
That description has taken on greater significance following her death, as family and friends continue to remember the person behind the Cijimpi persona.
Her final words continue to haunt those close to her
Before her death, Cijimpi recorded a video message that has since circulated on social media.
In the video, she appeared to say goodbye while discussing difficulties in her relationship and saying she had done everything she could for her partner.
The contents of the video have prompted intense discussion online, but her family has urged people not to rush to conclusions about what happened.
Sandile said the family did not have all the answers surrounding her death.
“We still do not have all the details surrounding her death,” he said.
He also explained that Cijimpi had introduced her partner to the family and brought her home.
“We cannot simply take my sister’s side because we do not know what happened between them,” he said.
“We do not know how much the partner may have been abused by Alabaster, and we also do not know how Alabaster may have been abused by her partner.”
A final farewell in KwaZulu-Natal
Cijimpi was ultimately laid to rest in KwaZulu-Natal, where family, friends and fellow public figures gathered to say goodbye.
The funeral brought together people who knew different versions of her – the outspoken Cijimpi seen online, and Ntombifuthi, the sister, friend and loved one known by those closest to her.
For her family and friends, the days following her death have been about more than mourning. They have also been about confronting the pain she experienced during her life and the parts of her story that may not have been visible to her large online audience.
Her friend’s account of her experiences with rejection over her sexuality has further highlighted the personal battles she faced.
Cijimpi may have built a reputation for speaking loudly and fearlessly online, but those gathered at her funeral remembered someone whose life also contained moments of rejection, hurt and vulnerability.
