Home

Kuli Roberts laid to rest in a private funeral in Johannesburg

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Loved ones and entertainment industry practitioners paid their last respect to journalist and media personality, Nomakula Kuli Roberts, during a private funeral held in Johannesburg. Roberts, who was a former Lifestyle editor for Sunday World and former co-Presenter on SABC’s Trending SA, passed away last week. The cause of her death is still unknown.

Kuli Roberts was a caring mother who was a fierce activist against injustice and a passionate entertainment and media industry veteran. This is how friends, colleagues and loved ones described the late journalist and media personality.

Among those who paid their tributes are close friend Chriselda Kananda and veteran singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka.

“She was an unbelievable force in the media industry. She may be gone, but will never be forgotten. She was consistent in every interview, telling her story, sharing her journey, vocal about injustice, and made sure we know why she was here,” says Chriselda Kananda.

“I once told Kuli that, ‘you don’t love me, you love Brenda Fassie’,and Kuli said, ‘of course, Brenda Fassie is my homegirl’, but I love you because you married a doctor, and you have money and that’s who Kuli was,” says Yvonne Chaka Chaka.

VIDEO: Family, friends and colleagues gathered in Johannesburg to say their final goodbyes to Kuli Roberts

 

Roberts attained her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Cape Town and pursued her illustrious journalism career. Despite her schedule, Kuli still made time to be a good mother to Leaun and Thembela Roberts.

“My mother was never just a presenter, a columnist or editor; to me she was a mother who had two kids that thought the world of her. I’m thankful that before her passing she knew her son had graduated with a Master’s degree and had started to work. I’m thankful that she was able to walk her daughter down the aisle,” says Leaun Roberts.

“One of last conversations I had with my mother was at my daughters fifth birthday a couple of weeks ago. She told me how proud she was of my brother and I and how lucky she was to have raised two children and a grandchild,” says Thembela Roberts.

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula was also in attendance on behalf of the Sports Arts and Culture Department.

“She was not fake and was not afraid to confront difficulties and when she was wrong she would apologize. She didn’t bare any grudges and lived her life to the fullest,” says Fikile Mbalula.

Kuli leaves behind two children and a grandchild.

Author

MOST READ