Soprano Khayakazi Madlala has died at the age of 32. The soprano died on May 5 after a short illness.

Cape Town Opera was the first to announce the news and said, “We are heartbroken by the unexpected passing of our beloved colleague, Khayakazi Madlala. Our thoughts go out to her family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

Born in Matatiele, South Africa, Madlala trained at the Gauteng Opera Academy and at the NWU Conservatory. She went on to participate in masterclasses at the Guildhall School and won awards including the Audience and Andrea Catzel prizes at the 2020 Voices of South Africa competition.

She went on to perform at the Johannesburg Theatre and Durban Playhouse, Mälmo Opera House, Sweden, and Starlight Classics with the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 2024, she participated in the Renée Fleming Song Studio, and she also joined the Opera for Peace Academy, with coaching from artists including Thomas Hampson, Lawrence Brownlee, Sumi Jo, Kamal Khan and Brian Jagde.

She made her Royal Opera House debut during the 2024-25 season.