Update: police confirm death of popular TikTok star Junior King in collision

Tributes continue to pour in for TikTok star, rapper and dancer Junior King, real name Dugulth Ferreira, who tragically died in a head-on collision early yesterday  morning.

King originally from Gqeberha and known for his energetic dance videos and sharp lyrical style rose to prominence on TikTok, where clips of his choreography and skits quickly gained traction. In recent months, he added another title to his growing list of talents with the release of The Revenge Album, which dropped on 5 December.

The popular creator’s life was cut short at around 07:25, when emergency services were called to a collision between a light truck and a sedan on the N1 near Verkeerdevlei. Responders arrived to find the two vehicles had collided head-on. King was declared dead at the scene.

Three other people sustained moderate injuries for further treatment.

Graphic videos have been circulating on social media showing King with a bloodied face, lying in the back of the vehicle.

Unconfirmed rumours suggest he may have been on his way to pick up his children at the time of the crash.

As news broke, tributes streamed in from fellow entertainers, organisations and fans. DJ, radio host and influencer Yuzriq Meyer said he was struggling to accept the news, posting: “I’m having so much trouble digesting this. Bro, it can’t be. Not Junior maaaaan… Bro was such an important part of the culture and worked harder than anyone I know… The man had a heart of gold and the talent of a titan. Bro, you will be sorely missed.”

Free State police explained the report from first responders indicates that the Grey Volkswagen Polo TSI was driving on South lane towards Bloemfontein whereas the truck was driving towards Winburg on the North lane.

"There were four passengers and the driver inside the Volkswagen Polo. The deceased- believed to be King was seated behind the driver with his two children. The two kids, together with the passenger who was occupying the front seat were rushed to local hospital,"  police said.

Both drivers of the Volkswagen Polo and the truck escaped unharmed.

Later in the day Lt Col Thabo Covane confirmed to the Weekend Argus that the police visited the family members at the hospital, and it was confirmed by the sister that the deceased is Dugulth Darian Denver Ferreira (29).

Rapper and TikTok creator Chesrae Megan also shared her heartbreak, writing: “You are leaving me in a tragic trance… He was one of the few rappers who believed in me and pushed me to keep making music… Junior, I am in pieces. We spoke yesterday. Your words will always stay with me ‘Ches keep pushing’.”

Anti-crime organisation Fight Against Crime SA (FACSA) paid tribute to King’s impact on culture and the communities he represented, saying: “Junior King was more than an artist. He was a rising force in Afrikaans hip hop, a young creative who disrupted norms, built cultural relevance from the ground up, and gave a voice to communities often overlooked in the mainstream music landscape.

“His work resonated because it carried truth, storytelling, and lived experience. The industry loses not just a musician, but a talent whose trajectory was still climbing. We keep his family and loved ones in our thoughts and prayers during this deeply painful time. May they find strength and comfort, and may his legacy continue to inspire those who believed in his voice and his journey.”

Junior King is being remembered as a dynamic performer whose creativity resonated with thousands and whose rising career has ended far too suddenly.

In an eerie post made a day ago King joked about retiring from the rap game writing: "Retiring from rap for good."

[email protected]

Weekend Argus