Covid-19 claims top sports journalist

THE Sport and Recreation Portfolio Committee of the KZN legislature has learnt with sadness of the passing of Sbusiso Mseleku, a sports journalist who served the media fraternity with honour, dignity and dedication.

He died at age 59 shortly after he tested positive for Covid-19. Again, this pandemic has robbed us one of our finest sons of sport entertainment.

He was an exemplary example to many generations of sport journalists that came after him. He will be sorely missed and the sporting industry has indeed recorded one of its greatest losses owing to this global pandemic.

Babu Mseleku’s life and work speak for themselves. Throughout his career he has been with many publications, including SABC Sport where he delivered football insights as a sport analyst, Drum Magazine, Lumumba Sport, The Sowetan, Sport24 and City Press. He left City Press last year to form his own digital company called Mseleku Sport.

As a committee, we also take this opportunity to reiterate the call by President Ramaphosa that although the nation has moved to level 2 of lockdown, Covid-19 still roams our shores.

It is incumbent upon all of us to continue exercising the greatest caution, while remaining united in the fight against this deadly virus and holding on to our unshaken determination to defeat this virus that has posed a severe threat to mankind.

On behalf of the Sports and Recreation Portfolio Committee of KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, we convey our heartfelt condolences to his family, and the football fraternity at large.

AMANDA BANI-MAPENA | MPL chairperson for Sports and Recreation Portfolio Committee, KZN legislature