Friends, family and former colleagues gathered today at the Bryanston Methodist Church, north of Johannesburg, to bid farewell to late legendary broadcaster, Dumile Mateza. Mateza, who had a broadcasting career spanning more than three decades in mainly sports commentary, passed on last week after a long illness.
Described by many as an all-round and multi-lingual sports commentator, Mateza had become popular in the 1980’s. Many who loved him gathered at the Bryanston Methodist Church to bid farewell to him and pay their last respects.
Mateza could do sports commentary whether boxing, rugby or cricket in English, Xhosa and Afrikaans. And those who had worked closely with him remember him for doing his job to the best of his ability.
“We learned a lot from this legend that I worked for more than three decades. When it comes to research and pronunciation, we know that Mateza when he tells you information it’s authentic ,” says Paul Molefe, former colleague and friend.
“We lost oMzimasi, we lost David Kekana and here is the last Dumile. SABC must take cognizant of SABC Sport because that’s where everybody watches and it’s what will make SABC beautiful,” says Mona Vanqa, former colleague and friend.
Mateza also distinguished himself in 1999 when the country hosted the All Africa Games which had 6000 athletes competing.
“He wanted to excel in everything he did. When we held the All-Africa games in 1999, he was the General Manager responsible for marketing and as you might remember, we did a good job hosting those games,” says Mthobi Tyamzashe, former colleague.
Mateza is survived by his wife, Xoliswa and two daughters.
Daughter Tutula paid tribute to her father who she says he also instilled in her the culture of reading and communicating properly.
“I think the best thing my father taught me was speaking. I was a terrible speaker. The first time I asked my father to help me with an oral, he said Tutula why do you speak in a monotone,” says Tutula Mateza.
The procession departed for the Fourways Memorial Park at the end of the service to take Mateza to his final resting place.
VIDEO: Dumile Mateza funeral
