Johannesburg -
Hundreds poured into the SABC Renaissance Centre at the public broadcaster’s headquarters in Auckland Park on Wednesday to mourn the death of Morning Live presenter Vuyo Mbuli, 46.
He died of a pulmonary embolism, collapsing while he watched a rugby match at the Free State Stadium on Saturday night.
On that morning, he tweeted that he was watching his son play soccer at school.
They later travelled to the Free State with his son’s friend to watch the Cheetahs play the Reds.
The crowd in Auckland Park filled the mezzanine floor above the venue, and others walked to Studio One to watch a live stream.
“If there is any indication of the love this nation has for this man, this is it,” said Lulama Mokhobo, the chief executive at the SABC.
“We thought, as the SABC, that Vuyo was ours, but he belonged to the nation.”
Personal stories from those who worked on his radio and TV shows were shared at the service.
There were several moving musical performances and words from his neighbour, his running club and members of his family.
In the event room itself, the mourners were crowded along the edges of the seats so close together that someone’s tear might fall on their neighbour’s shoulder.
And tears were plentiful.
Two large projector screens stood next to the stage, as perhaps the best way to view Mbuli was on screen.
Most speakers ended their speeches with Mbuli’s signature sign-off, “Sharp, Sharp!”
People slipped in and out of the many languages Mbuli spoke.
SAfm station manager Dennis O’Donnell recalled the words the television personality made up, like how he thanked guests for their “guidation”, and sparked a debate on the use of the word “nice” to describe a person’s health.
They recalled the jokes Mbuli made, like his refusal to call Morning Live’s Nothando Maseko by her name, Thando, instead referring to her as “Really, really, really” because of her earpiece pleas to wrap up the show.
Maseko later discovered he would not call her Thando because that is how he referred to his wife Savita, meaning “love” in Zulu.
The entire Morning Live team filled the stage, singing the Sotho hymn Motho Mang Le Mang Ya Nyorilweng (All those who are thirsty), which Mbuli would sing every morning before the show.
“I hated this song, I’d ask him to stop,” Maseko said.
“And Vuyo would say ‘You are a sinner’.”
Maseko said that on the Friday before he died, Mbuli spent three hours in her office, arguing that they needed to create a programme, a show, or something to empower and educate the youth.
One of his running buddies also recalled Mbuli singing the song as they struggled to finish a marathon.
Morning Live co-presenter Leanne Manas delivered an unscheduled speech, saying that this week had been the hardest week of her life.
“Vuyo, you are here. You are loving this! And you deserve all this,” she said.
“I never got to thank him, but I don’t believe that without him taking me under his wing, I would have reached heights in broadcast I never thought I would reach.”
Mbuli’s family were in attendance. The funeral service is scheduled for Friday, and Mbuli will be buried in West Park cemetery.
The Star