FORMER UKHOZI FM presenter and technical producer Mandla 'Njinji' Magwaza has been remembered.
His emotional memorial service was held at SABC studios in Durban on Thursday, 29 January, where he spent his entire career.
Njinji (42) joined Ukhozi FM in 2008 and became the first technical producer and the first voice of the station before he became a presenter. He passed away on Saturday, 24 January after a short illness.
During his memorial service many speakers said that in his last days he was behaving like he knew that he was going to pass away.
Ukhozi FM presenter Lucky Nkosi shared that Njinji cleared his chest to him about all that was happening on Ukhozi FM before he resigned in December 2024.
Lucky said unfortunately he will not share that, and he will take it to his grave.
"Few weeks ago, I called him and visited him at his home. I arrived at his home, and he requested that everyone come clean before we did anything. We sat down and he cleared his chest about all what was happening while he was still working for Ukhozi FM and some of them he thought I was also involved in.
"He told me that his ancestors told him to fix things, and I told him about what exactly happened. After that he was relieved and he took me to his indumba and reported to his ancestors that I have never wronged him," he said.
Ukhozi FM business manager Lwazi Mthabela said Njinji called him two weeks ago to check on him.
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"Besides that Njinji was no longer working with us and resigned in December 2024, it was important to do this memorial service for him, and we were still hearing his voice when some of the clients brought their work here.
"We had no bad blood with him because he was a people's person. We also got time to sit down with him and he had many challenges. I was also giving him advice, sometimes he would listen to me and sometimes he would be stubborn," he said.
Former Ukhozi FM digital technician DJ Mngadi challenged the SABC to take care of the well-being of its workers.
"I would like to tell the SABC and Ukhozi FM bosses that Ukhozi FM presenters love the station. I request a review of their well-being. I think it's important because I have realised that many former workers are struggling outside after they have left and that raises many questions," he said.
Njinji's wife Nqo Magwaza said for the past four years Njinji was not himself and she apologised for him to those who he might have wronged.
He will be laid to rest on Saturday, 31 January in Inanda north of Durban.
