Ashanti has spoken about the devastation caused by the recent death of her cousin in a car crash.

Quinshae Snead, the singer's 20-year-old cousin, had been travelling to Ashanti's hotel in South Africa before a performance when the incident occured. After it was hit, she was flung from the car she was travelling in and was run over by another vehicle.

Ashanti told the New York Daily News: "I cannot believe this happened to my cousin, and it is hard for me to grasp the reality that she is gone from me and my family and her friends."

A 17-year-old has appeared in court facing charges of culpable homicide, drunken driving and driving without a licence. The case has been postponed to May 10.