Sarona Motlhagodi (17 May 1993 – 5 March 2021), known professionally as Sasa Klaas, was a Botswana singer, rapper, songwriter and television presenter. She was born on 17 May 1993[1][2] in Botswana and raised by her single mother Anna Mokgethi, a Motswana politician.[3] She was an all-round musician and considered Botswana's "First Lady of Hip-Hop".[4] She made her debut with her hit single Mma Mongwato. She was in a relationship with Bakang Baxon Moitoi.[5]
Career
Klaas's interest in performing and music started early when she won a dance competition at Woolworths at age 4. She went on to study for a Degree in Film and Television Production at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, but left to follow her musical ambitions.[6]
Sasa Klaas' career took off with A Ke Mo Khande, a collaboration with artist Thato Matlhabaphiri (Scar).[7] Soon after in 2011 she became a presenter of The Foundation: Next Level from 2011 to 2012 on e.tv Botswana.[8] Her first solo single, HADSAN, was released.[9][10] The song title, an acronym for “Hustle All Day, Stunt All Night,” is an ode to female rappers being just as capable as male rappers.[4] Klaas would later release a clothing label under the name HADSAN.[7]
In 2018, Klaas began co-hosting "Highly Inappropriate With Phat Joe", a television show on DStv's Moja Love station in South Africa.[11][12] In 2020 at the start of the pandemic, Klaas returned to Botswana from where she was living in South Africa.[7]
Described as "one of Botswana's celebrated talents",[11] Klaas would rap both in English and in Setswana. Critics have described her lyrics and persona as feminist.[13] She actively campaigned against gender based violence in Botswana, appearing on billboards to support female empowerment.[6] Prior to her death, she had been the victim of cyberbullying.[14]
Klaas died on 5 March 2021 around 7pm at age of 27 from injuries suffered in a R44 helicopter crash in Xumabee Game Ranch (near Sojwe).[15][16] After the accident, Klaas was left at the scene of the accident as the helicopter pilot went to find help. After waiting hours for help, she died enroute to a hospital in the back of a truck in the Kgalagadi Desert.[17]