by Thinus Ferreira
The former Jam Alley presenter Vinolia Mashego, popularly known as "V-Mash" has died. The South African TV icon was 56.
Vinolia Mashego died at her home in Mamelodi, Pretoria. She leaves behind a son, Oratile (20).
Her friend and fellow actor Zola Hashatsi announced on Monday late afternoon on Instagram that Vinolia Mashego had died in her sleep but the cause of death was not revealed.
A funeral is apparently planned for the 1990's "It" girl, who was on Monday called the "Bonang of the 90s" on social media, for Friday 10 April but the funeral will be limited to family.
Vinolia Mashego the “IT girl” from the ‘90s has sadly passed awayðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ’”💔— Dr. Cam Modisane, Ph.D. (@DrCamModisane) April 6, 2020
This was the Bonang of the 1990s, multi-talented Actor, Presenter and Diva Extraordinaire!
Condolences to the Mashego family. #RIPVMash #RIPVinoliaMashego pic.twitter.com/YxxR9pzjS9
The Moja Love TV channel on Monday evening told TVwithThinus that the channel head Bokani
Moyo was paying the family "a visit in their time of
bereavement" and that Moja Love would issue a statement later.
The SABC also said in response to a media enquiry that it would be issuing a statement.
The production company Quizzical Pictures in a statement said that "It is with great sadness to hear that Vinolia Mashego has passed on. We loved working with her on our comedy series Single Galz II."
South Africa's department of arts and culture said that "we are deeply saddened to learn about the passing of a pioneer of South African television, Vinolia Mashego popularly known as V-Mash, who became a leader of popular culture in the 90s and will forever be remembered for breathing life into the soul of our nation".
Nandi Madida on social media said "Just learnt that the lady and Legend who inspired so many of us to be in the TV industry has passed on. What an icon! Thank you."
The TV presenter Andile Ncube remarked that "The Greatest Of All Time has left the building...no one has gone close to her artistry and genius as a host/presenter".
According to Vinolia Mashego's father, Collin Mashego, Vinolia, who lived alone, died in her sleep on Sunday night and was found dead in her bed in Mamelodi on Monday morning.
The award-winning star who opened up in the past about how her TV career flatlined after Jam Alley which she presented on first the CCV channel which changed into SABC1, was quite frank in later years about how she struggled with being broke after her departure from the show that made her a household name.
The SABC also said in response to a media enquiry that it would be issuing a statement.
The production company Quizzical Pictures in a statement said that "It is with great sadness to hear that Vinolia Mashego has passed on. We loved working with her on our comedy series Single Galz II."
South Africa's department of arts and culture said that "we are deeply saddened to learn about the passing of a pioneer of South African television, Vinolia Mashego popularly known as V-Mash, who became a leader of popular culture in the 90s and will forever be remembered for breathing life into the soul of our nation".
Nandi Madida on social media said "Just learnt that the lady and Legend who inspired so many of us to be in the TV industry has passed on. What an icon! Thank you."
The TV presenter Andile Ncube remarked that "The Greatest Of All Time has left the building...no one has gone close to her artistry and genius as a host/presenter".
According to Vinolia Mashego's father, Collin Mashego, Vinolia, who lived alone, died in her sleep on Sunday night and was found dead in her bed in Mamelodi on Monday morning.
The award-winning star who opened up in the past about how her TV career flatlined after Jam Alley which she presented on first the CCV channel which changed into SABC1, was quite frank in later years about how she struggled with being broke after her departure from the show that made her a household name.
After her Jam Alley career she became tabloid fodder with a torrent of ongoing headlines about her apparently erratic behaviour - something that also led to her Jam Alley axing..
She was fired from Jam Alley after she was arrested in February 2011 for walking around naked and cursing at a block of flats in Pretoria's Sunnyside suburb. A few months earlier she also caused problems at a Durban beauty pageant when she flashed her underwear at the audience.
Following her role in 2019 as Kwinana in Giyani - Land of Blood (SABC2) Vinolia Mashego was back on South African television earlier this year as the presenter of a new season of the Bheka Sik'bambile show on Moja Love (DStv 157).
"I think TV has loosened up because in my day people had to work under strict instructions where you could not say certain things or speak in other languages unless instructed to do so. It was harsh, but I defied them then and spoke in Sotho, Zulu and tsotsitaal whenever I felt it applied. Today presenters do just that. From YO.TV to Shiz Niz, those kids are doing as they please and that’s what TV needs; for presenters to be comfortable," she said.
Some of Vinolia Mashego's other TV roles included ad exec Hilda Letlalo in Generations (SABC1) as well as in series ranging from Muvhango (SABC2), to Di Wele Makgolela (CCV-TV), Isibaya (Mzansi Magic) and Mutual Friends (SABC1).
Born in Alexandra, Vinolia Mashego decided at the age of 12 that she wanted to enter the world of showbiz and wanted to follow in her parents' footsteps and become a Latin American dancer, although her dad wanted her to become a lawyer.
From there she started doing commercials with Revlon that was her first. "They made me look so grown up and I was just so flattered appearing on television for the first time," she said in an interview.
A Sepedi TV show followed where she was the co-presenter with Lucky Diale, after which she joined Lillian Dube's casting agency in the 1980s and got a lead role in the Sepedi TV drama series Ditlabonyane ke di tlaboima as her first acting role.
UPDATE - Tuesday 7 April 2020 14:30: The SABC in a statement says that it's sending condolences to the Mashego family following the death of Vinolia Mashego.
"She graced the South African entertainment industry with a unique presenting style that has continued to serve as an inspiration for upcoming as well as established media personalities. Through her outstanding craft, V-Mash won the nation's heart."
"She connected with her audiences in a special way which saw her become a household name and has left an indelible mark in the South African entertainment industry."
"She will be remembered for her bubbly and energetic personality that changed the outlook of presenting for the better. Her exceptional work has been preserved in the SABC’s archives and will continue to serve as a remembrance for the remarkable legacy she left in the broadcasting industry."
