The SABC sports analyst and anchor David Kekana has died. He was 47.
David Kekana who worked for the SABC for 18 years died on Sunday after two weeks of being hospitalised after a long battle with chronic diabetes.
David Kekana's family confirmed his death in a statement on Monday saying that the father of two was admitted to the Milpark Hospital on 13 August and died on Sunday 25 August 2019.
"We wish to thank the medical team that attended to him for their medical interventions and unwavering support during David’s stay in hospital. David Kekana is survived by his mother, sister, father and two daughters," the family spokesperson said.
David Kekana was a mathematics and English teacher at the JS Mpanza Primary School in Diepkloof before he branched out and ventured into a journalism career.
He became a reporter at The Sunday Times newspaper in 1999 and did sports commentary for Primedia and SuperSport. He joined SABC Sport as a sports analyst in 2001.
The SABC in a statement on Monday morning said that the South African public broadcaster "conveys its condolences to the Kekana family" with David Kekana's "journey with the organisation that commenced in 2000 at SABC Sport, where he started as a football analyst and scriptwriter on Soccerzone".
"He later joined the Soccer 411 and Sport@10 teams as a journalist. On SABC1's Laduma he formed part of the analysis team and on occasion, he was touchline presenter on the field."
"David Kekana formed an integral part of the SABC Sport team as a researcher and script writer for various productions, including the FIFA World Cup tournaments, the Olympics, All Africa Games and the Africa Cup of Nations."
"He possessed great knowledge of the sport and his passion for the game made him one of the greatest South African soccer pundits. David Kekana was a hard worker and a passionate team player and he will be sorely missed by his colleagues at SABC Sport, the SABC at large and the sporting fraternity."
Nathi Mthethwa, South Africa's minister of sports, said "Today we woke up to devastating news of the passing of veteran football analyst, David Kekana. His contribution to football analysis spans close to 2 decades and his commitment to sports development will be sorely missed".
