It has been 12 years since well-known South African TV and radio presenter Vuyo Mbuli passed away, but the pain of losing him still feels fresh for his wife, Savita K. Mbuli. Vuyo died on May 19, 2013, at the age of 46 after collapsing at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein while watching a rugby match.
On the anniversary of his passing, Savita shared a touching tribute on social media. She posted a photo of herself with Vuyo and reflected on life without him, who she lovingly called “Thando.”
“Twelve years since the passing of my dearest Thando. And the voice of the doctor who confirmed, ‘We tried our best but we couldn’t save him,’ is remembered so vividly,” she wrote.
She also spoke about how much has changed since his death, but how her love and admiration for him has never faded. “So much has happened since, but what remains is that you are the best we’ve ever had,” she added.
In her post, she also mentioned how artificial intelligence (AI) suggested what Vuyo might look like today. But to her, she still remembers him as the young and vibrant man who appeared on the first broadcast of Morning Live, the breakfast show that made him a household name in South Africa. “Continue to rest in heavenly peace, Myenam. We all miss you,” she wrote.
According to City Press in 2023, Vuyo’s co-anchor and friend, Leanne Manas, said she was often approached by people who still remembered him fondly. “It’s overwhelming how people still stop me in the streets to say how much they miss him and the lessons they learned from his bubbly personality,” Leanne shared.
