The wife of the late radio and TV maestro, Bob Mabena, spoke passionately of her husband at his funeral service held in Pretoria West Crematory at Rebecca Street today and also live-streamed.
She said she has laid awake every night since his passing hoping that her husband would walk through the door only to realise that the one who used to make her laugh uncontrollably is no more.
“The 10th of August is still a vivid nightmare and I keep asking God why now and at the same time, I thank God for giving me such an amazing human being.
“I’m going to miss the warm kisses every morning without fail when you went to do your show, my baby love, my superman, love of my life. Words aren’t even coming to me. My pillar.
“I thank God for giving me such an amazing being to be a part of my life for the past seven years. Thank you for choosing me. You made promises that you kept since day one, You gave me until death do us part.” Said Ms Mabena.
She promised to take care of all of her husband’s children.
“I am proud of you Mabena. You made me someone my homey, my lover and my best friend. I love you so much,” she said.
Former friend and colleague of Bob Mabena, Mr George Manyosi, also paid tribute on behalf of the friends explaining how The Jammer – as Mabena was fondly known – became an icon.
“How did this guy become a superstar?” asks Manyosi. “He was a reader from home and his command of English was vast.
“Two things about the beauty of Mabena are charisma and his hunger to learn.
“He loved his children and gave the best of himself to his friends,” adding that, “He had a favor that is supernatural that was on him, that is why he succeeded and became who we are celebrating today.
“He was open-minded and took kindly to criticism. He was kind.”
Mabena succumbed to a heart attack on Monday, 10 August 2020 leaving shockwaves at POWER 98.7, in the media industry and South Africa at large.
He was a host on POWER Breakfast alongside Faith Mangope.
Mabena spent his last moments behind the microphone during his show on Friday, 7 August 2020, three days before his untimely passing.
Some of the prominent names that attended his funeral include Thato “DJ Fresh” Sikwane and wife Thabiso Sikwane as well as Penny Lebyane.
He is survived by his wife, eight children.