You were so many things to so many people, a son, brother, uncle, father to your family and relatives. A friend and confidante to many of your friends and a trusted and valued business partner and colleague to many that you did business with.
But probably most South Africans and the world will remember you most for your illustrious career in redefining the entertainment industry during your tenure as EMI/CCP boss, unlocking the talent of hidden gems and launching so many into prosperous music careers and instant fame in the showbiz.
But it is those who grew up with you and witnessed your humble beginnings in the dusty streets of Leboneng (not Maboneng) in Hammanskraal that admired your rise to become one of the best ambassadors of Temba. A true beacon that gave hope to so many who were inspired by your example, that indeed it is possible to rise above the confines of a “township experience” to become a national and international cultural icon that you had become.
Brought up by a single mother, Ausi or Mane Sophie, who was a primary school teacher with a meager income to raise her family, you learned early in your teenage life to fend for yourself by selling sweets and peanuts on the school grounds to make a little bit of money. And later did the same in train carriages between Hammanskraal and Pretoria B Station. Learning to dodge the train ticket inspectors or railway police and other authorities – and often landing in the back of a police van charged with illegal trading. Yet you survived to become who you have become.
The latter experience, of being a hawker – was indeed your classroom to become one of the top black sales and marketing executives in the country, first in the education sector selling educational materials but most famously as a promoter and music mogul with EMI/CCP where you launched the careers of many local and international artists like Branda Fassie, Chico Twala, Mandoza, Ringo Madlingozi, Mzwakhe Mbuli and many, many more who will forever be indebted to you for their success in their music careers. You became the face of South African music and one of the most recognizable (and most quoted) music promoters in the music landscape in Africa.
But beyond and behind the glamour and glitz, you remained a simple and humble person who never forgot your simple roots in Hammanskraal. Instead, you used your simple upbringing to connect, guide, and mentor your young artists, to protect them against the entrapment of fame and glamour. You were not just their boss and mentor, but also their counselor and spiritual guide. You guided many to invest their fortune wisely and saved many from the destruction of alcohol and drugs.
Of all the moments I will always be proud of, is when you decided to quit alcohol forever as it threatened to destroy your dignity as a prosperous entrepreneur and a family man. As you became more spiritual and wiser in your later years, your wisdom acquired from many years in the corporate world blossomed and launched you to pursue many opportunities towards the acquisition of wealth. You were able to easily transfer your life long skills to take up any opportunity that came your way, from ICT to digital innovations, creating platforms that added value to many business enterprises. At any given time, you were able to work on many opportunities with the same passion and vigour, and succeeded in most of them. And always willing to learn to explore opportunities, right up to the end.
Through the years as “homeboys” from Temba, we enjoyed moments of leisure in many cities in South Africa and beyond. I was always guaranteed a VIP ticket to many festivals and awards ceremonies, or Tourism Indabas or Golf Tournaments. Or a weekend away to the Cape Town Jazz Festival or Joburg Joy of Jazz. Or a quiet retreat in a Game Reserve. We shared our memories of African and international travels.
We became more than friends and became uncles to our children and friends to our partners. Your friends and acquittances became mine and ditto. We shared moments of joy and grief together and shared the most intimate of our love lives and challenges of life, the achievements of our kids and grandchildren. And for that, I will always be grateful that you have been part of my life journey.
Like a big brother, you protected me right up to the end, by hiding from me the pain of your battle with the dreaded Covid-19. And I can only imagine your last moment of absolute solitude as you breathed your last breath in the early dawn on Friday 5 January 2021. Leaving many of us devastated at your abrupt and untimely departure from the world of the living. But your memories will live with many of us who adored and cherished your presence in our mortal lives.
Until we meet again.
Segomotso: I hope you are pulling through my brother [7.23pm, Jan 4, 2021]
Orrack Chabangu: Just taking a rest [7.31pm, Jan 4, 2021]
With those few words, you were gone to take your eternal rest, my brother.
