(Elaine
Jennings)
(Report
courtesy of GetIt Durban)
Tafta is saddened by the loss of much-loved
former employee and talented theatrical entertainer, Elaine Jennings, who
passed away last week following brief hospitalisation.
As the pioneer of popular entertainment
group, The Tafta Revellers, 79-year-old Jennings was well-known for bringing
her charismatic flair to local stages and defying old age with decades of vibrant
performances.
Jennings, who had for years called Tafta
her home and been an adored member of the Tafta family, was a popular
personality amongst her peers, staff and Durban audiences.
Jennings joined Tafta as a service centre
organiser at the Anna Conradie Service Centre after moving to Durban from
Johannesburg, where she had performed in professional theatre since the age of
12 and toured with shows throughout South Africa and the then Rhodesia
(Zimbabwe).
During her time at Tafta, Jennings touched
the lives of thousands through her work. But her love for performing led her
back to the stage when she founded The Tafta Revellers in 1985 and had since
directed and choreographed several concerts and performances.
Under Jenning’s leadership, The Revellers
performed at venues throughout KwaZulu-Natal including the Durban City Hall and
special performances for the Council for the Aged at the Durban ICC as well as
for former President F W de Klerk at iconic beachfront hotel, The Southern Sun
Elangeni and Maharani.
Despite what she described as ageing
ailments, Jennings was fuelled by her passion for music and dance and committed
her time and talents to conceptualising routines and rehearsing with the group.
Speaking after a recent performance at the
launch of Tafta’s Langeler Towers she said: “Entertaining is a large part of
who I am, so every performance is special and feels great. Being part of The
Revellers is loads of fun and keeps us young at heart and fit.”
All at Tafta have been hard hit by news of
Jennings sudden passing.
“Friday, May 5 was a sad day for the Tafta
family as we heard the news that Elaine had passed away. She was the epitome of
all that we aspire to be and do at Tafta. Her infectious smile, her kindness
and total love of life inspired people around her. She inspired active
ageing,’” says Tafta CEO Femada Shamam.
“Her love and passion for entertaining
always had audiences smiling, clapping and nostalgically singing along to old
favourites. She sang, danced and loved all that life had to offer.”
“The ever talented, vivacious and
flamboyant Elaine Jennings will be sorely missed and from all at Tafta we keep
her loving husband, Vern and the rest of her family in our thoughts and
prayers,” adds Shamam. – Report from Getit Durban
Posts
