SHARPEVILLE.- The Sedibeng media fraternity mourns yet another death of one of its own. Former MooiVaal Media photojournalist, Bushy ‘Mo Afrika’ Khalema (59) is no more. Khalema died due to COVID-19 complications at Kopanong Hospital on Monday.

This comes after the passing of another former MooiVaal Media journalist, Sonqoba “SK” Kunene who also died due to COVID-19 complications in July.

‘MoAfrika’, as Khalema was affectionately called in the newsroom was one of the longest serving Vaal Vision (Sedibeng Ster’s predecessor) photographers.  Apart, from being a Photojournalist at MooiVaal Media, he was also working in the darkroom as a photo developer. Khalema also used to do freelance work for mainstream media including the SABC. At time of his death, Khalema was a self-employed photographer. He was also running a printing business at his parents’ home in Vuka Section, Sharpeville.

He leaves behind his three sisters and brother. Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, his sister, Teboho Mokone, said that his death is a great loss to the family and that her brother Khalema was everything to his family.

“We don’t believe that he is gone because he was very careful and respected COVID-19 regulations and health protocols.  My brother was very humble, down to earth, soft-spoken, self respecting and he loved what he was doing. He was always busy but at the same time having time for everyone, especially when the family needed him most. He was a people’s person and you would never find him angry,” said Mokone.

Sedibeng Ster veteran journalist, Zacharia Nale, described Khalema as a humble person who was always smiling.

“When I joined MooiVaal Media in 1996 as a freelancer, I found Bra Bushy in the newsrooms, working in the darkroom. He was very passionate about his job and he helped some of us to grow as journalists and photographers. To make it interesting even after he left MooiVaal Media he continued with his photography. He was very popular among members of the community because of his down to earth personality. He was a par excellence photographer. When I got married in 2004 he was a photographer at my wedding. To be honest, photojournalism will be never the same again. Rest in peace Mo Afrika, till we meet again,” said Nale.

His memorial service is schedule to take place at the Roda Yende Hall in Sharpeville on Thursday at 14:00 and his funeral service is on Saturday.