Gauteng Health MEC Dr Gwen Ramokgopa encouraged young people to ensure that popular Yfm DJ Fana ”Khabzela” Khaba’s legacy ”lived on by going out in great numbers” to register to vote on Saturday and Sunday.
Ramokgopa was addressing mourners attending Khaba’s funeral service held at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday morning. Khaba was later buried at the Roodepoort Cemetery, west of Johannesburg.
The DJ died from Aids earlier in January. Last May, he announced to Yfm listeners that he had tested HIV-positive, and helped to reduce the stigma attached to the disease.
Ramokgopa said that ”as someone who loved his country and its people, Khabzela would have asked you to do this and to vote in the election later this year”.
She said Khaba was a ”very talented young man who touched our lives in a very unique manner. He had an impact on this province, on the youth of this country and on the media industry.”
The MEC said he would be remembered for ”many good things including opening up the airwaves to talk about HIV and Aids and his bravery, courage and leadership in publicly declaring his HIV status”.
”His departure is a great loss to the youth of Gauteng, the media industry, and to all of us who are involved in the fight against HIV and Aids. We lay you to rest with the pledge that as government we will intensify our HIV prevention programme. We will look after those who are already infected and affected. We will continue to urge young people to take responsibility for their sexual lives.”
Ramokgopa said: The airwaves may no longer echo to Khabzela voice. They may no longer reverberate to his incisive jokes. Indeed the song has ended but the melody lingers on.” ‒ Sapa