Vuyo Mbuli's SABC memorial service: 'Today is an overwhelming day for the SABC family,' says Lulama Mokhobo, SABC CEO.

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"Today is an overwhelming day for the SABC family," said Lulama Mokhobo, SABC CEO at the jam-packed, emotional and very moving memorial service in the SABC's Renaissance Centre for Vuyo Mbuli, the co-anchor of the SABC's flagship breakfast show Morning Live on SABC2 who died unexpectedly on Saturday night four days after his 46th birthday.

The SABC's public memorial service held on Wednesday afternoon at the SABC's Auckland Park headquarters for the popular dead TV presenter drew a massive crowd as well as an outpouring of tributes from dignitaries, luminaries, politicians, artists and TV industry heavyweights who all attended.

In the public memorial service for Vuyo Mbuli which lasted more than 4 and a half hours, person after person after person took to the podium to talk and relate stories, anecdotes and tales about Vuyo Mbuli who was branded an "icon" on an SABC banner besides the stage.

Besides clips from the SABC archives from Morning Live and Vuyo Mbuli appearances, the SABC choir sang, Soweto children sang, violins played, and relatives spoke plainly and painfully.

The SABC put together a moving, terrific and incredibly beautiful tribute video filled with SABC colleagues spanning the breath of the public broadcaster talking and sharing memories about Vuyo Mbuli, filled with the big and small places across the length and breath of South Africa Vuyo Mbuli travelled to to do Morning Live from over the past 13 years.

Leanne Manas, his co-host on Morning Live for the past 9 years and who attended the memorial service said she was "flooded with memories" and called Vuyo Mbuli "short but a giant".

"This has been the hardest week of my entire life. I've lost a very big part of my life. My heart's jumping out of my body at this point in time. Vuyo was and is most of the most loved individuals in this country. He embraces and embodies everything that South Africa is about."

Addressing Vuyo Mbuli and saying she believes he's there, Leanne Manas said "I met your mother and your father, sadly, for the first time on Sunday. They cried when they saw me, Vuyo. I think they cried because I think they saw you when I walked through the door. And I saw you in them. I saw you in your father's eyes."

As tears kept streaming down her face, Tracy Going, Vuyo Mbuli's first co-anchor on Morning Live sat crying as photos spanning his career flashed on screen.

"He just made sure that you are happy coming to work and that you enjoy the experience," said Andile Masuko, the weather woman on Morning Live.

Ashraf Garda, Special Assignment presenter said Vuyo Mbuli is "for me very much the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo of the broadcasting world. What I mean by that that they are quite irresistible."

"This is a person who just loved life and loved what he did," said Sophie Ndaba, Generations actress. "Every time we think of eloquence, every time we think of talent, every time we think of someone whose got the class to go along with what you want to present, we think of Vuyo."

Samm Marshall, Morning Live Weekend anchor said "Vuyo understood the business. He knew what morning TV was all about. It's about engaging with people; sharing your life with people; because they open up their hearts and their homes to you every morning."

"Here is a man who I can call 'sunrise'. Sunrise never ever lets you down - it's so consistent," said Yvonne Kgame, the SABC's acting head of strategy.

Bessie Tugwana, SABC2 channel head touches millions of ordinary South Africans and had a great work ethic.

"Vuyo Mbuli made a huge contribution," said actress Lillian Dube. "He made journalism something people aspired to be through his respect for the people he interviewed, always having that twinkle in his eye, his laugh - and he made you feel important."

"I think there's probably a lot of young people who are thinking of becoming broadcasters because of him," said Peter Ndoro, Morning Live's business anchor. "In his work I think he always tried to make South Africa a better place and he was very passionate about that."

Nothando Maseko, the executive producer of Morning Live - flanked on stage by the entire Morning Live crew as well as crew members who started Morning Live in November 1999 including Tracy Going - sang a song that Vuyo Mbuli sang on set every morning. "Obviously this is not an SABC choir" joked Nothando Maseko.

"Vuyo was spontaneous, Vuyo was brave, and very unpredictable," she said.

To Vuyo Mbuli's children aged 15 and 13 sitting right in front, she shared what Vuyo Mbuli once told her: "Thando, my children inspire me to wake up and to be who I am. My children are my dream."

Vuyo Mbuli's public SABC memorial service Wednesday at 14:00 at the SABC; public very welcome to attend to 'share the life of Vuyo'.

Vuyo Mbuli's public SABC memorial service will take place tomorrow, Wednesday 22 May at 14:00 at the SABC's Auckland Park headquarters and the SABC says members of the public are very welcome to attend the proceedings.

Vuyo Mbuli, co-anchor of the SABC's flagship weekday breakfast show Morning Live on SABC2 died unexpectedly from a heart attack - a pulmonary embolism - on Saturday night.

"We are calling on everyone who wants to be a part of the memorial to come over and let us share the moments and life of Vuyo Mbuli," says the SABC.

Vuyo Mbuli's memorial service to which everyone is invited as a final big goodbye and tribute will take place in the Renaissance Centre at the SABC and his funeral will take place on Friday, 24 May at St John's College in Houghton at 09:00.

'We will go on for Vuyo': The hurt, the sadness - and the concern - behind the scenes at SABC2's Morning Live after Vuyo Mbuli's tragic death.

As news very quickly spread among the production crew and staff of the SABC's flagship weekday breakfast show Morning Live and SABC News personnel that Vuyo Mbuli  had suddenly died, the first feeling amongst many were one of disbelief, followed by "intense concern" for particularly his co-anchor Leanne Manas, several people close to the production told TV with Thinus on Monday.

Several people involved with the SABC2 morning show who spoke on condition of anonymity since they're not authorised to speak publicly on behalf of the programme, told of how "almost unbearable" it was to go to work today after the death of Vuyo Mbuli was announced by Morning Live's weekend staff on Sunday morning.

With Peter Ndoro doing another SABC and New Age breakfast briefing in Cape Town, it meant that Leanne Manas would have to front the Monday broadcast of Morning Live on her own at the main table after saying she was "devastated" by the death of Vuyo Mbuli.

"Leanne is one of the strongest people and she's unflappable when it comes to technical problems, but Vuyo's death made it very, very difficult. They've both been used to stretches where the other one's not there but this was completely different from anything [Morning Live's] had to deal with before," said one insider. "Leanne is the face of all of us, and what we are is very sad. An irreplaceable part - an irreplaceable one of the team - is no longer here."

"Going into Monday everyone knew it was going to be different and difficult," tells a source. "The whole energy is unlike anything before. Firstly it's because he's gone and Leanne and Vuyo would back each other up when things go a bit wrong on-screen. Now he's gone and he's never coming in to be mic'ed up again."

"Secondly everyone is hovering on the verge of crying the whole time. And if we cry Leanne might cry," said the person. "Since Sunday people are intensely thinking about Vuyo's kids and family and there's been intense concern for Leanne. She was very courageous on Monday morning."

SABC2, asked for a response from the channel's channel head about the passing of Vuyo Mbuli and how SABC2 feels, didn't respond to media enquiries, but another close source talked about how "unreal" it feels within the corridors of Auckland Park.

"The past two days and Monday's Live felt like slow-motion. We must go on; we will go on for Vuyo but it's hard to concentrate. The show's experienced some tragedy and difficult stuff behind the scenes a few times, Tracy [Going] and things like that, but nothing close to this before."

A high-level SABC newser described the atmosphere within the SABC on Monday as "depressing" in relation to Vuyo Mbuli "because nobody got to say goodbye."

"It's not really ego but a lot of news and current affairs people come to feel after a while that they're invincible. You feel you can do anything; that there will be a next day irrespective of whatever drama there is in the world and that you're in control. They're always planning the next big thing, they're part of the 'pacemaker' rhythm as news and events unfold and are shaped and as they help to shape them. When one of those 'invincible' people is suddenly not coming back on Monday morning, it's unsettling, really."

Another insider behind the morning show talked about how Morning Live and the SABC has been overwhelmed with a somewhat unexpected, large outpouring of tributes, reaction from viewers and messages from far beyond South Africa; Swaziland, Botswana, the United Kingdom; even New Zealand.

"After 13 years Vuyo Mbuli had spoken to almost everyone who's anyone. He was almost always ready to travel anywhere in South Africa at the drop of a hat. He did the show from inside a plane. He made the SABC come across as professional even when situations behind the camera wasn't ideal. It's now so clear that millions of South Africans had come to just accepted him as this SABC face and voice for forever. It hurts, it hurts that he's gone."

When asked about replacement plans and a new co-anchor for the Morning Live seat next to Leanne Manas, and when that would happen, the answer was "too soon, too soon. No-one's even close to there yet. The focus is on getting through the mornings, honour Vuyo's legacy and continue."

"It hasn't been easy for all of us at Morning Live," Nothando Maseko, the executive producer of Morning Live told SABC Television news on Sunday.

"Vuyo Mbuli's work was a shining example of commitment and service to citizen-oriented journalism and public broadcasting," says the vast public pressure group SOS Coalition. "He left an indelible mark on the lives of those he touched in both his life and through his work, and will forever be remembered for it."


ALSO READ: SABC CEO Lulama Mokhobo: "Today is the most difficult day I've ever had at the SABC."
ALSO READ: Leanne Manas on Morning Live sitting next to an empty chair remembers Vuyo Mbuli: "It feels like I've lost my morning husband."
ALSO READ: Leanne Manas "devastated" over Vuyo Mbuli's death; stunned and shocked SABC executives react: "Vuyo had so much to offer - still."
ALSO READ: SABC shocked over Vuyo Mbuli's untimely death; runs a special in memoriam tribute card across all three SABC TV channels.
ALSO READ: Vuyo Mbuli dead after fatal heart attack; death of Morning Live presenter leaves crew "shocked and saddened".

Leanne Manas on Morning Live remembers Vuyo Mbuli with an empty chair next to her: 'I feel like I've lost my morning husband.'

A highly emotional Leanne Manas, her voice trembling with sadness, spoke to South African viewers on Morning Live today on SABC2, sitting next to Vuyo Mbuli's empty chair and pink flowers honouring his legacy after his unexpected death from a heart attack on Saturday which has plunged the longrunning breakfast show into sorrow.

"Good morning," said Leanne Manas with a sigh although she shook her head in the negative and in disbelief. 

"It's uhm, a very different morning here at Morning Live," she said, her voice hovering on the verge of crying. "The empty chair where Vuyo used to sit for 14 years."

"This morning as we mourn our loss, we also celebrate the life and times of Vuyo and for the past two days ... it's been very tough for us here at Morning Live as we come to terms with this massive shock and loss. Vuyo was one of the original presenters who started Morning Live on 1 November 1999 with Tracy Going and he and I have been working as an item for the last nine years."

"Our thoughts are with his family, his wife, his two children, his friends, his colleagues, and you out there - the millions of viewers out there who watch Morning Live and who have supported Vuyo through his journey and his life."

"Every moment this morning I've expected him to walk through the door. I've been sitting in makeup expecting him to walk up the stairs - he used to run up the stairs in preparation for his Comrades Marathon. But it's no more. But we'll do the best we can without him. A very difficult broadcast we're going to have on Morning Live," said Leanne Manas.

"I was warned of Vuyo when I came into television and onto this programme, saying 'Vuyo is a tough guy, he's a this, he's a that', but the moment I sat down with Vuyo when I was doing the elections in 2004 I sat down next to him and he welcomed me like I've never been welcomed by anyone. And from that moment we clicked and I wasn't even on Morning Live yet," said Leanne Manas.

She described herself and Vuyo basically being "a married couple". "It didn't matter what we went through - here at Morning Live or at the SABC or wherever, it was always he and I. He walked through the door and somehow everything would just feel better. He said to me 'I keep coming here because I love working with you, I love this programme and I love the people I work with'. And that was Vuyo."

"I've feel like I've lost my morning husband. It's very sad."

ALSO READ: Morning Live's Vuyo Mbuli dead after heart attack.

ALSO READ: Leanne Manas '"devastated" over Vuyo Mbuli's death; stunned and shocked SABC executives react: "Vuyo had so much to give - still."

ALSO READ: SABC runs an on-air, in memoriam tribute card to Vuyo Mbuli on all three SABC TV channels after his death.

SABC shocked over Vuyo Mbuli's sudden and unexpected death, runs a simple on-air, in memoriam tribute card all day today on all 3 channels.

A shocked SABC mourning and reeling from the unexpected death of Vuyo Mbuli, SABC2's Morning Live co-anchor for the past 13 years, has been running a simple in memoriam tribute card on a black background today across all three of the SABC's TV channels - SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 - and in heavy rotation.

SABC broadcasting executives pulled a litany of promos and ordered the tribute to be played as often as possible.

The in memoriam card - a simply black background first with a photo of Vuyo Mbuli who passed away suddenly after a heart attack in Bloemfontein yesterday and the words "In Memory of Vuyo Mbuli, 1967 - 2013", is followed by the SABC2 logo in white on the same black background.

It's accompanied by simple piano notes. The used in memorian photo of Vuyo Mbuli framed against a tiffany blue background is his very last one which was part of Morning Live's latest publicity shoot which was done last year when Morning Live ushered in a new set in July.

ALSO READ:  SABC2's Vuyo Mbuli dead after sudden heart attack.
ALSO READ: Leanne Manas "devastated' over Vuyo Mbuli's death; stunned and shocked SABC executives react: "Vuyo had so much to offer - still."

BREAKING. Vuyo Mbuli dead after fatal heart attack; SABC2's Morning live presenter death leaves crew 'shocked and saddened'.

Vuyo Mbuli is dead after the co-presenter of SABC2's Morning Live breakfast show suffered a fatal heart attack and died. He was 46.

The Morning Live crew I'm told is shocked and saddened about Vuyo Mbuli's unexpected passing five days after his 46th birthday and who was described as "a healthy man". 

Vuyo Mbuli died in a Bloemfontein hospital yesterday after he collapsed and was rushed to the Bloemfontein Mediclinic on Saturday night after suffering a heart attack whilst watching a rugby match between the Cheetahs and the Reds at the Free State stadium.

He was treated at the stadium before he was taken to the Bloemfontein Mediclinic.

Vuyo Mbuli was the co-anchor of Morning Live since the start of the morning programme on SABC2 on 1 November 1999, first with Tracy Going and then with Leanne Manas. 

Vuyo Mbuli made his South African television debut in 1993 as a continuity presenter for SABC3, then did sports presenting and then read the news after taking the Morning Live job.

Vuyo Mbuli's absence come Morning morning on Morning Live following his untimely and tragic death after 13 years on the air in the Morning Live anchor chair, co-incidentally co-incides with the departure of Debora Patta on e.tv who've just left 3rd Degree this week with the final episode on South African public television - the show also ending after 13 years. 

While professional on the air, Vuyo Mbuli's personal life and side-businesses were at times more tumultuous away from the SABC cameras; Vuyo Mbuli's private life often made for lurid headlines and scandalous stories in South Africa's tabloid newspapers which had the South African television industry sniggering from time to time.

"From Morning Live our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends, we will truly miss our anchor," said Morning Live in a statement on Sunday morning.

"He will be greatly missed," said Nothando Maseko Morning Live's executive producer. "It hasn't been easy for all of us at Morning Live. Vuyo's passing is definitely not just a loss to us here at the SABC but its a loss to his family, friends and I would say South Africa," she said.

"The thought of watching Monday morning and he's not there ... it's quite something," said Tracy Going, the former Morning Live co-presenter who said Vuyo Mbuli "could be moody. You know how we all are - we have the good and bad. But Vuyo Mbuli was incredibly committed and he was incredibly hard-working. He worked very very hard to be so well-informed."

Leanne Manas, Vuyo Mbuli's Morning Live co-presenter simply said I'm devastated."

"He was a person who was determined to make sure that South Africa succeeds," said Kaizer Kganyago, SABC spokesperson.

"In a press statement the SABC says "we will always remember Vuyo Mbuli for his dedication and loyalty not only on the job, but to the South African public at large through his engaging and thought-provoking presentation style."

"He will be sorely missed and on behalf of the SABC board, SABC management and our staff, our deepest and heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends during this difficult time. The public will fondly remember him for his catchphrase 'Sharp-sharp'."

In a statement the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) Patrick Craven said: "We are waking up poorer today. We shall miss one of the most familiar faces and voices in South African broadcasting. He was always a true professional, fair and friendly, humble and respectful, yet never afraid to ask difficult questions to get to the truth."

Thuli Madonsela, South Africa's public protector, said "it is quite a sad day for South Africa and for journalism."

Dina Pule, the minister of communications said "Vuyo Mbuli in studio was able to speak in many languages. The variety of languages he spoke made of Vuyo Mbuli a household name. I'm sure many people woke up when they heard his voice.Vuyo Mbuli had become part of our ritual and a part of our lives."

In a statement president Jacob Zuma said "It's hard to think of a more patriotic and positive person that Vuyo Mbuli. He was always cheerful and the whole nation will miss his smile and encouraging words. I wish to express, on behalf of government and the entire South African population, our words of condolence to the Mbuli family, friends and the SABC."

No funeral arrangements have been announced.

ALSO READ: Shocked SABC after Vuyo Mbuli's unexpected death, runs a simply on-air, in memoriam tribute card.
ALSO READ: Leanne Manas "devastated" over death of Vuyo Mbuli; stunned and shocked SABC executive react: '"Vuyo had so much to offer - still."

BREAKING. Kim Cloete and Vuyo Mbuli LIVE at parliament.

You're reading it here first.

Yesterday I asked SABC2 numerous times who from the TV channel would be covering the LIVE opening of parliament. I called several people. I emailed. But I didn't get ANY response from SABC2 on what SABC2 personalities would be anchoring the first-ever evening opening of parliament on TV right now.

Now we all finally have an answer. From the image below you can see it's the veteran TV journalist Kim Cloete, and Vuyo Mbuli doing double duty. Vuyo Mbuli of course has been up since early this morning anchoring Morning Live from the Drakenstein Prison outside Paarl and can be forgiven for looking somewhat disinterested, tired and not in the mood to interview politicians who can't give straight answers on simple questions. The brave Kim Cloete is valiantly battling on however.

I have one more photo I can show you if you click on READ MORE below.

BREAKING. Vuyo Mbuli of Morning Live accused of assault.

The co-presenter of SABC2's morning breakfast show Morning Live, Vuyo Mbuli is accused of assault. That is after he was caught with another man's ''friend'' while Thabisa Nyamakazi was in her underwear and he was buttoning up his shirt.

Pat Legwabe has laid a charge of assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm against Vuyo Mbuli at the Johannesburg Central police station.  Vuyo Mbuli denies that he assaulted Pat Legwabe, but admits that he was at the woman's house in Winchester Hills late on Monday night for ''personal reasons''.

Pat Legwabe claims that Vuyo Mbuli threw a vase at him. Pat Legwabe claims that Vuyo Mbuli grabbed him by the shirt and said: ''I'm going to f- kill you'."

Vuyo Mbuli admits that he ''wrestled'' with Pat Legwabe to get himself out of his grip and then left. Vuyo Mbuli is still married to his wife.