Journalism hosts memorial service for its late students

Veteran broadcaster, Xolani Gwala.   



DUT Journalism programme hosted a joint memorial service to honour the lives of three of its alumni Ben Said, Xolani Gwala and Zamani Mbatha who died in separate incidences this year.
Held at DUT City Campus, the memorial service was attended by journalism staff members, current students, and former students.

Said, who was eNCA's director of news died while on holiday in Mozambique in August and Gwala died after succumbing to a lengthy battle with cancer at the beginning of November.
Mbatha who had recently graduated from DUT Journalism died after a motorbike accident. He was described as a very dedicated and driven person who had a rare ability of managing a lot of his priorities very well.

DUT Senior director of cooperate affairs division Alan Khan, shared memories of former classmate and close friend Ben Said saying, “After almost 3 decades since we graduated from this institution, I never thought I would be here, mourning the life and remembering my closest friend, Ben.”

Khan added “He will and always be remembered as a journalist of impeccable quality, losing him at such as young age was always going to be hard to accept for everyone especially his family and close relatives”. Said left behind his wife and two daughters.

SABC’s former regional head of news and current affairs, Nhlakanipho Zulu had nothing except praise for veteran broadcaster, Xolani Gwala. Zulu said “He has dedicated his life advancing the course of journalism while also being at the core of promoting media freedom.”  

-MNCEDISI AND SINETHEMBA MVUNE 

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