Beloved Lotus FM presenter Zakia Ahmed Siddiqi passes away

RENOWNED Lotus FM presenter and sought-after MC at social events Zakia Ahmed Siddiqi passed away on Friday morning after being ill for the past fortnight. Siddiqi had suffered a heart attack two weeks ago but had returned home on Monday, where family said she was recovering.

On Friday morning, she went into a coma and later succumbed to it. Despite being a diabetic patient, Zakia had a zest for life that would never reveal to anyone her illness. Shocked fans and friends across the country have been digesting the news with disbelief.

Fakir Hassen, who fist appointed Zakia to the station shortly after he took over as Station Manager in 1985, described her as a colleague who became a lifelong friend and confidante. “Can't find words to express my heartbreak at the passing of my dearest friend and confidante Zakia Ahmed Siddiqi who first impressed me during her interview for Radio Lotus.

“We shared so many personal and professional memories together Best I can do is reminiscence over the good times with the many photos I either took of her with others or that were taken of us together over the years, always with her infectious smile. Will be treasured forever,” Hassen said in a Facebook post.

“Zakia never had a bad word for anyone, even when she was upset with them. She shared with me many of the challenges that she faced, often seeking advice, and her greatest fear was not being on air any longer doing what she enjoyed most, something she shared with me during the last of our frequent telephonic conversations just a few weeks ago,” Hassen told the POST.

Also on Facebook, another former Lotus FM presenter, Fareed ‘Docky’ Dockrat, said: “May Almighty be pleased with you Zakia Ahmed Siddiqi - a friend, a colleague, a co presenter, a confidante, a kind caring considerate human being and a genuinely gifted broadcaster.

"Your tears at my leaving Lotus FM are nothing compared to these we shed at your leaving us all so soon."

Siddiqui was married to legendary poet Safee Siddiqi and they had two children – Safeenaaz, a lawyer in Cape Town, and Basharat, a graphic designer.

Safee passed on in November 2012, almost to the day that Zakia also passed.

She never allowed his memory to be forgotten as she frequently quoted his poetry at public events.

Once a popular presenter as a full-time presenter on Lotus, Siddiqui worked for a short while for Radio Al Ansaar as well before returning to Lotus a few years ago.

During a reshuffle at the station, she was given a night-time daily talk show which she developed into one of the most popular programmes on the station.

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