Popular and talented Lotus FM presenter Zakia Ahmed Siddiqi passed away today, Friday, 21 November, aged 65, following complications that began with a heart attack she suffered two weeks ago. Although she had recently returned home and was said to be recovering, she slipped into a coma on Friday morning and later passed away.
Siddiqi, who had been living with diabetes, carried herself with a zest for life that often masked her health challenges. Her broadcasting career spanned more than three decades at Lotus FM, where her warm, effervescent personality made her a beloved colleague, friend and host to countless guests.
Zakia Ahmed Siddiqi was the wife of the late poet and well-known Lotus FM presenter Safee Siddiqi, who hosted the popular Sunday night qawalli show. She is survived by their two children, Safee-Naaz and Bashaarath. She will be laid to rest at the Brooke Street Cemetery on Friday night.
Tributes for the respected presenter have been pouring in across social media as shocked fans and friends struggle to come to terms with the news.
Her former boss, Fakir Hassen — who first appointed her to Radio Lotus in the 1980s — reflected on their decades-long friendship and professional relationship, saying:“I 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 reminisce 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. These will be treasured forever. I know that where she is in Jannah now, she will always be looking down at the many events where she will be absent in person and bless us all for their success.”
Hassen also shared that Siddiqi often confided in him about her challenges, and that one of her greatest fears was no longer being able to do what she loved most — being behind the microphone.
Former colleague Fareed “Docky” Docrat expressed his sorrow on Facebook, describing her as a gifted broadcaster and a deeply compassionate soul: “May the 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 those we shed at your leaving us all so soon. Rest well and enjoy being reunited with those you love in a place of extreme contentment. Your friend always, Dashing Docky.”
Former broadcaster Alan Khan called her death “a tremendous loss on so many levels,” recalling her professionalism, warmth and the impact she made on listeners across the country. Khan also noted that her passing came just days after she was named a nominee for Best Talk Show at the 2025 Telkom Radio Awards — a testament to her enduring relevance and talent.
Siddiqi spent much of her earlier career as a full-time presenter on Lotus FM and also worked briefly at Radio Al Ansaar before returning to Lotus. More recently, she developed a popular late-evening talk show during a station reshuffle, earning a loyal audience who connected with her sincerity and distinctive broadcasting style.
Her legacy will live on through the lives she touched, the stories she told, the voices she uplifted and the poetry of her late husband, which she proudly kept alive at public events.
