A generous man who never hesitated to lend a helping hand. A kind man who enjoyed spreading cheer and had a genuine love for people.
A gentle soul who would not hesitate to sacrifice himself for others. That’s how former Generation’s star Mandla Hlatshwayo lived his life – and that’s also how he died.
In a month where South Africans, shocked at the death of yet another young woman allegedly at the hands of her boyfriend, called for men to stand up against abuse, Mandla did just that. And he paid with his life.
The Jozi FM DJ and a friend died in a hail of bullets at Meli Lounge in Pimville, Soweto, on Sunday 14 May when he rushed to the aid of two women who were being robbed outside the venue.
His assailants left him in a pool of blood, making off with his wallet, cell phone and shoes. Now his loved ones are trying to pick up the pieces and face life without the 40-year-old star, whose death sent shockwaves through the country.
Friends, family, community members and actors are gathered at Mandla’s Soweto home hours after his death when we arrive, trying to come to terms with the fact that he’ll never come home again.
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His last memory of his nephew is a good one, his uncle, Jonathan Hlatshwayo, tells us, wiping away tears.
“We were at a wedding in Orange Farm two weeks ago. We had a good conversation as usual because that was the kind of person he was – he loved talking,” he says. The DJ was in the process of paying lobola for his girlfriend, Mummy, when he was killed, Jonathan adds.
The way Mandla died is achingly familiar to his family as their father was also shot in a robbery, his devastated sister, Maggie Ntombela, says.
“Men were robbing our father of his cell phone and shot him at close range outside our house,” she recalls, her eyes bloodshot from weeping. “Mandla’s death has opened our wounds all over again.” She’s already missing her playful younger brother, the distraught Maggie tells us.
“We are truly saddened as a family. He used to tease us and play with us all the time.”
The former Electric Workshop presenter had five children, the youngest a 10-month-old baby [at the time] who’ll never know his father or the ability he had to make people feel special, Maggie says. Mandla’s death has left behind a gaping void in the family, his brother Sipho adds. “For now, all we can do is take things as they come."
Mandla, who played Siphiwe Phosa on Generations, was with a group of friends at the pub around 10 pm on Sunday 14 May when the incident happened. It was over in a split second, his friend Charles Maholi says.
Charles recalls how his friend was the first to jump up at any sign of trouble.
“There were about nine or 10 of us inside the pub when two women ran inside, shouting frantically. They said they were being mugged and immediately Mandla stood up and went outside – that’s when we heard gunshots and he was no more,” he recalls.
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Mandla was followed outside by one of his friends, who was shot in the heart, Charles continues. “The whole thing happened so fast we didn’t even get a chance to get a good look at the suspects.”
After Mandla was shot, the gunmen searched him and made off with his belongings. No arrests had been made at the time of going to print. In his last past five years Mandla worked at Jozi FM and Mpho Mhlongo, his boss and the station’s CEO, is still trying to come to grips with the loss.
He too tells us how it was in Mandla’s nature to try to help when someone was in trouble and he knows he wouldn’t have hesitated to rush to the aid of women in danger.
“Mandla was very kind. I was not surprised when I heard how he had died. Helping people was in his blood. He was a down-to-earth guy and very giving. He would sacrifice himself to help others.” He had nothing but praise for the Soweto-based DJ, who always went the extra mile to lend a hand with every project the station introduced.
An example, he adds, is the station’s marathon, Soweto Walk 4 Life, which Mandla had participated in hours before he died. “Mandla was a runner. He motivated people to live a healthy life and he was out on the road that day. He was happy. Jozi FM will miss his passion for radio and his great music selection but mostly we will miss his high morality and love for people,” Mpho says.
Mandla’s death has also left his colleagues and fellow actors reeling. They also tell of his kindness and gentle nature, with his Generations co-stars describing him as a great person to work with.
Former Generations stars Winnie Ntshaba and Mike Mvelase were torn apart. It’d been an absolute pleasure working with Mandla, even though it was only for a short time, Winnie tells us. “I can only add my voice to the chorus: We were not surprised by how Mandla died – helping others was normal for him.”
“He was nice to everyone,” Generation’s creator and producer Mfundi Vundla agrees. “Assisting others was second nature to him.”
Mandla died a hero at a time when South Africa is in desperate need of one – yet this is bringing little comfort to his family. “We have to adjust to living without him now,” his sister says. “And it’s breaking our hearts.”
