Tributes to ‘loving and warm’ radio veteran who died at 78
News of the death of beloved former Umhlobo Wenene FM presenter Nomathamsanqa Rweqana has left a hole in the hearts of family, friends and listeners.
Rweqana was a fixture on the airwaves for many years, and her warmth and presence will be greatly missed, people who were close to her said.
She died on Tuesday, aged 78.
She was admitted to a private hospital in Gqeberha after a long illness. She was living with dementia.
Born and raised in Twecu, Mam’ Rweqana, as she was affectionately known, relinquished the microphone in 2022, after almost three decades on the airwaves.
She joined the station in 2008 as a religious programme presenter and led many spiritual programmes at the station.
She was the driver of a spiritual 3am show, Ndingu Yehova Igqirha Lakho.
Her death left fans reminiscing about the great memories they shared with her.
Family spokesperson Petros Majola said: “She was everything to us.
“Even though we could see her health was deteriorating every day, her death is still difficult to accept.
“We could not have taken away her pain, which she felt alone. But as a family we have suffered a huge loss.
“Tributes have been pouring in since the news surfaced on social media.”
Majola described Rweqana as a loving and warm individual.
“She had positive values that showed she loved people. “We were very close.
“We used to call each other, and when she was working for Umhlobo Wenene I would go and visit her.
“Sisi drove a programme that carried the problems of the people. She was bubbly and loved her home.”
Former Umhlobo Wenene presenter the Rev Mzukisi Faleni, who worked with Rweqana, said she had changed the narrative about the gospel of God.
“The death of Mam’ Rweqana is very unfortunate. It will leave a huge space in religion, theology and preaching.
“She was one of the first women to liberate women into preaching.
“She did that without any man behind her,” Faleni said.
“She was a reverend who needed no man’s support to become a preacher.
“She was a woman who stood by her word and called many women to the alter of God over the airwaves.
“She opened opportunities for women to preach in radio.
“She was very dedicated and lived by making others happy.
“People would call and say they had nothing and she was able to help, and that thrilled her.
“She was a good manager. “She was a religious manager at the time, managing religious affairs within the SABC.”