While we welcome our new journalist, we also mourn the death of some musicians
As many of our readers may have noticed, Kathorus MAIL has recently acquired the services of an additional member in its editorial team.
Please allow me to take the opportunity to introduce to you, our new “pointsman” and journalist for your favourite Lokshin newspaper: 25-year-old Itumeleng Modiba. He described himself as “a once aspiring amateur football player” who was later lured to broadcast media”, which he also later discarded when he fell in love with print media while working as production leader for Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) student newspaper.
A media studies graduate, Modiba has been with us now for just over three months and has this to say about himself: “I was bitten by the media bug in 2015 when I was still in high school. I applied to study for a national diploma in journalism with the TUT in 2016 but was not accepted due to limited space.
“I reapplied the following year and was accepted to enrol in 2017. I secured an internship with Soweto Urban News the following year and I was later offered a permanent post until August 30, 2019.”
I urge our ardent readers to welcome Itumeleng Modima as a new and committed member of our growing family and embrace him as their own journalist and a member of their families.
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The country has been plunged into mourning mode with the recent deaths of some of the finest performing musicians.
Former Joy trio singer Thoko Ndlozi’s, of Paradise Road fame, death was followed by that of trombonist and former Union of South Africa co-leader Jonas Gwangwa and jazz and classical singer Sibongile Khumalo. The entertainment scene was caught in a moment of grief and sorrow as the announcement of their deaths was made public.
Ndlozi died in the last week of January. Her death brought back decades of bygone memories of the trio’s golden era during the emergence of country’s “struggle music” during the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. Joy was made up of KZN-born Felicia Marion, who was also the youngest member and founder of the trio, Eastern Cape-born Anneline Malebu and Soweto-born Ndlozi.
Their popular song Paradise Road scaled several local radio charts and in the UK. With Malebu and Ndlozi now dead, Marion is the only remaining member alive today.
Gwangwa’s claim to fame was being approached directly by late ANC leader Oliver Tambo while the party was in exile to establish what was to later become world-renowned Amandla Music Ensemble. The orchestral ensemble became a huge success, touring a number of cities and raising funds and awareness about the ANC and apartheid in South Africa throughout Europe and the US.
Khumalo was the daughter of famed South African classical composer and conductor Khabi Mngoma. At the age of 63, many in the music fraternity believed this classic and opera singer was one of the best vocalist ever produced by the country. Khumalo will be remembered by her fans and admirers as the most glamourous and versatile singer of our time.
May their souls rest in eternal peace.
