FORMER Umhlobo Wenene FM presenter, Kci has been laid to rest. His funeral service was held in his home in Adelaide, Eastern Cape on Saturday, 6 January.
KCI, whose real name was Mthobeli August (47) was found dead in his home on Friday, 29 December.
Radio presenter, Putco Mafani was the programme director for the day.
His sister, Siphokazi August said she was the last person to speak to her brother before he died.
“I’m happy I was the last person you spoke to on the 23rd, you filled my heart with joy that day. We had great conversations like you knew you would leave me. You love me with our mum who is not okay health-wise. Please be a light and be a good ancestor, I love you,” she said.
Vuyo Mbuli’s wife, Savita Mbuli said she called him Chi-Chi and said he was more than just a radio presenter.
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“I can speak freely about the relationship he had with my parents, children and my husband. Thank you so much, Chichi for connecting us to so many people. I got to know so many people through him, with him, whether it was all or not. I count it as a real privilege that I had the front row in Chi-Chi’s life. Our relationship was an elder sister and younger brother one.
“He was a hard worker. Before he started working at SABC, you’d believed he worked there because he was there every day. He made ways to be there. Before being on air, he was with the SABC Choristers choir because, for him, it was the door to what he wanted. He used that opportunity which is something the youth today doesn’t do,” Savita said.
Baphelele Mhlaba who was friends with KCi at school said he didn’t want to live long.
“Mthobeli never wished to live very long and he said so in his own words that he doesn’t want to be an old man who will be told to eat, sit and do everything like he couldn’t think. But in the short life that he lived, he gave so much, he opened so many doors,” he said.
SABC Business Manager for the Eastern Cape Combo, Loyiso Bala said he was blessed to know KCi.
“His humour and cheerfulness encouraged people to become radio presenters. When you check under the hashtag #RIPKCi, people are saying they used to run home after school so they can listen to his show. At the time, I wasn’t working at Umhlobo yet, I was still just a singer. He loved my music and he helped put my music and the music of many other musicians on radio.
“Even though he lost his job because of that and other things, he left a lot of musicians with the gift of being known by the whole world. His show was interesting to young people, old ones, people in different provinces and a lot of people. Till today, we still play some of his recordings and I hope we’ll be able to put them up online for people to access them,” said Loyiso.
