Jacob Zuma’s emotional tribute to Mbongeni Ngema
Former President of South Africa Jacob Zuma pays tribute to the late Mbongeni Ngema at the memorial service which took place on Wednesday, at the Playhouse, Durban.
Zuma delivered an emotional tribute to his friend who passed away in a car accident on the 27th of December.
“When I was told that he had passed, I thought it was a joke I thought he’d never die. I thought he’d live forever because of the way he was. It’s shocking that we are here to say goodbye. When I heard, I asked myself ‘why not us who are old?’ What shall become of us with Mbongeni no longer with us?
“He was a man amongst men. We have truly lost a great talent. He told a story through song in such a way that you would know it word by word and never forget it. I was very lucky because I knew him at an early stage. He fought for freedom and was able to pass the message of how we were oppressed.”
The former president also revealed the project they had planned to work on this year.
“He wanted to create a story about my life. We eventually agreed that he could tell my story. Our deal was that we’d meet after Christmas.”
“Mbongeni was not just a friend, a comrade who fought for freedom with all his might, this man was prominent worldwide in a way that educated the youth through storytelling and song.”
“What hurts me the most is he left without me saying goodbye, because we were yet to meet soon to talk about the things we would talk about when we would meet.”
“We’ll never forget this man. he fought for freedom in many ways.”
