Berita mourns Zondi

BULAWAYO rising star Berita Khumalo took to Twitter to mourn South Africa’s Metro FM veteran DJ Eddie Zondi who died on Monday.

BULAWAYO rising star Berita Khumalo took to Twitter to mourn South Africa’s Metro FM veteran DJ Eddie Zondi who died on Monday.

NDUDUZO TSHUMA STAFF REPORTER

Berita whose debut album Conquering Spirit won best Afro-pop album in last year’s Metro FM awards said Zondi who died at the age of 47, was the first to introduce her music to revellers and supported her career.

“Eddie Zondi gone too soon! The saddest news I’ve ever heard. God knows why,” Berita tweeted on Monday.

Yesterday, the musician who turns 23 next Friday, tweeted: “Many people first heard Thando Lwethu on the late Eddie Zondi show and in 2012 he came all the way to East London for my album launch!

“May his beautiful soul rest in peace! Gone too soon #LalaNgoxoliBabuZondi (sic).”

Berita’s manager Luyolo Beku told Southern Eye Lifestyle from South Africa that Zondi who presented the Romantic Repertoire on Sundays between 3pm and 6pm, was the first DJ to play the singer’s music on air.

“Zondi’s death took me by surprise. I heard on Monday morning that he had staged his last show somewhere in Johannesburg,” he said.

“I then learnt that he had died, but could not believe it. It only sunk when I heard Metro FM playing romantic ballads in Zondi’s honour.

“We were very close with Eddie. He was one of the first if not the first DJ in South Africa to play Berita’s music on air.

“His death really came as a shock to us.”

Beku said Zondi pressured them to submit Berita’s complete works.

“He was one of the co-masters of ceremonies at Berita’s album launch and presented a speech,” he said.

“He was dedicated in his work and went out of his way to promote young talented musicians to hog the limelight.”

A memorial service was held for Zondi yesterday at the Standard Bank arena in Johannesburg.

He worked at Metro FM for 18 years. He will be buried on Sunday. Berita grew up in Bulawayo, Nketa suburb.

She recently graduated from the Walter Sisulu University in South Africa.