NAMZI WAS A DARING PURIST
AS A pupil back in 2000 at Vuyiseka Secondary School in Cape Town, Luthando Namzi “hijacked” then education MEC Helen Zille.
He boldly asked her: “Why were the matric exam papers only available in two languages in Western Cape – English and Afrikaans – while the South African Constitution and the province’s language policy recognises three languages, including Xhosa?”
This led to an enduring friendship.
Namzi once stormed the Cape Times newspaper’s newsroom, but ended up having coffee with its editor Chris Whitfield.
As early as age 22, Namzi had testimonials from Arch- bishop Desmond Tutu and the late former education minister Kader Asmal, among others. Below are some of his exploits:
He was recruited to Media Works, a high school media project;
He was rejected as a journalism and media student at the Peninsula Technikon (Pentech), partly because of his student activism;
He invaded Pentech again, and threw tantrums when he encountered resistance, produced his newspaper cuttings – including an exclusive Helen Zille interview, and was subsequently admitted;
In August 2001, Namzi cofounded the youth magazine Angle Search, became its deputy editor and soon furthered his studies in Holland;
He graduated in 2004 and became an intern at the Cape Times and The Star newspapers;
Ever the perfectionist, while working as the acting media liaison officer for social development MEC Zodwa Magwaza, Namzi used to compel his principal to rehearse her speeches; and
In 2011 he joined the national Department of Higher Education and Training, reporting to polit- ical journalist-turned-spin doctor Ranjeni Manusamy.
Namzi, who died in a car accident last week, was born in Umtata, Eastern Cape, on October 25 1980. His family moved to Khayelitsha when he was seven years old.
He will be buried in Lady Frere on June 1.
He leaves behind a threeyear-old son, both parents Julius and Bukiwe Namzi, brother Sinethemba and sister Lazola.