By: Natasha Archary
Kaya Drive host, Sizwe Dhlomo paid tribute to Riky Rick at his memorial service this Friday.
The close friend and confidant of Rikhado Muziwendlovu Chifaro Makhado said news of his passing, hit him and their circle hard.
Sizwe said that while Riky pushed through his depression for years, he was still just an imperfect man trying to do better.
“If you were fortunate enough to be a confidant of Riky, you’d know these were conversations he dealt with daily. He fought these inner battles every day. While I can’t tell you why he did what he did, I can tell you that his actions didn’t mean that he didn’t love his family.”
Sizwe Dhlomo
The Kaya Drive presenter shared that Riky Rick’s love for his wife, children and family was a love that was unquestionable.
Touching on Riky’s ability to forgive and open himself up to embracing everyone and their differences, Sizwe shared that the late rapper planned on publicly ending the beef with Cassper.
“Let’s learn from Riky who knew that life was short. He planned on making up with Cassper live on stage at the next Cotton Fest. They were on speaking terms before he passed,” Sizwe shared.
The last two years took its toll on every South African and Sizwe shared that it must have hit Riky who was not dealing with his inner demons as good as he had been.
“I don’t want you to think the Riky you knew was a sham. He wasn’t pretending when he was on stage. Riky loved entertaining you. He lived for it. Life has it’s ebbs and flows and perhaps the last two years, the tide has just been too low.”
Sizwe touched on Riky Rick’s battle with clinical depression
Sizwe stressed that clinical depression is not something that anyone can just push through. The fact that Riky did push on for as long as he did, was a mark to his strength and determination to keep fighting.
Riky Rick had previously spoken out about his depression and the destructive path he was on. He often shared how his wife Bianca Naidoo saved him, and she in turn expressed that his love saved her.
Also read: Cassper on the last words Riky said to him
