“Christmas Won’t Be the Same Without Your Smile,” Manaka Ranaka On Losing Her Daughter

“Christmas Won’t Be the Same Without Your Smile,” Manaka Ranaka On Losing Her Daughter. One thing about grief, it never ends. No matter how much time has passed, there will always be those reminders taking us back into mourning. Manaka Ranaka, who lost her firstborn daughter early this year, knows this very well.

Katlego Ranaka, passed away from natural causes on the 23rd of January 2025. The reality show star and singer’s death devastated fans who had grown to love her on The Ranakas. Her funeral, held on 1 February, saw touching tributes from loved ones, including family members. She left behind her son, mother and siblings. Just before her passing, Katlego finished her Diploma in Animal Production Ekurhuleni Agricultural College. A couple of weeks back, Manaka had to pluck out all the courage to attend Katlego’s graduation at the college. It was such an emotional day for Manaka, and everyone who was in attendance.

Another significant event that happened in Katlego‘s absence was her 25th birthday, a month ago. Her mother Manaka shared another tribute to her. She wished her a happy birthday, and opened up about the pain of her first birthday after her death. To mark the special day, the family unveiled Katlego’s tombstone, and celebrated her life.

Now the family about to go on the end of year holidays without Katlego. This cuts deep, more so for her mom, as her absence will be felt. The veteran actress on Facebook shared that Christmas won’t be the same without her daughter.

“Christmas won’t be the same without your smile and I will be counting down the days until I see you again in my heart. 😭,” Manaka said.