Costa Titch's mother reflects on life after his death: ‘The spotlight took so much from you'

IOL News

29-07-2025

The late Costa Titch pictured with his mother, Lara Langeveld.
Image: Instagram
Costa Titch's mother, Lara Langeveld, has shared a deeply emotional tribute on Instagram, opening up about her grief and longing months after her son's tragic passing.
'I miss you more than words could ever explain. Life has been so strange and surreal since you left us.'
Titch, whose real name was Constantinos Tsobanoglou, tragically collapsed on stage in March 2023, while performing at the Ultra South Africa music festival at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg.
Initial reports described him falling, regaining his footing and then collapsing again. He was rushed to the hospital but did not survive.
In early 2024, his family revealed the official cause of death: a previously undetected strain on his heart, worsened by prolonged stress and exhaustion.
This condition is believed to have triggered an irregular heartbeat and fatal seizure during the performance.
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While his name, music and image continue to resonate with fans around the world, Langeveld's heartfelt message reminded the public that behind the artist was a young man with a warm heart, infectious laugh and boundless kindness - the son she lovingly raised.
'The world still sees Costa Titch everywhere - your music, your name, your image - but not many see you ... the boy we knew, the gentle soul with the kind heart, that infectious laugh and those warm hugs we miss so much.'
She reflected on the emotional toll of fame, and the weight her son carried behind the scenes, expressing a deep sense of maternal guilt and longing: 'I feel guilty sometimes, raising you to love freely, to be kind, to be open. But part of me wonders … if you had just lived a 'normal' life ... maybe you'd still be here with us.'
And yet, she acknowledged that Titch would never have chosen a different path. His life, though brief, was lived with purpose.
Known for championing unity, love and positivity, Titch stood as a symbol of hope and authenticity for many young South Africans.
'You never chased fame. You chased a purpose. You chased unity. You stood for love and positivity and gave youth something real to believe in.'
As a parent, Langeveld continues to wrestle with sorrow, but finds peace in the belief that her son is now free from the burdens of fame and the pressures of public life.
'Where you are now, you are loved completely. There's no more pain, no more pressure, no more pretending. Just peace. Just love. Just you.'
She ended the tribute with a powerful, eternal declaration: 'I love you, my son. Forever.'
Titch's sudden death at the age of 28 devastated not only his loved ones but also a nation still reeling from the loss of fellow rapper Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes, who was killed just a month prior. Together, their deaths marked a dark chapter in SA's music history.
Langeveld's tribute serves as a touching reminder that while the world remembers Titch as a performer and public figure, his family continues to mourn the son, the brother, the friend, whose spirit touched lives far beyond the stage.