He managed to remain polite while asking hard questions.He managed to remain firm and focused in the midst of numerous distractions.He managed to entertain and tolerate even the most bizarre of guests where any journalist would have lost it... he did this with finesse.He managed to keep his morning, live.He was synonymous with probing, searching journalism that everyone respected.If you wanted PR and no answers you would not want him interviewing you.If you wanted to conceal and not share you would need to think twice about being in his studio.It didn't matter how many times you were his guest... he took no one for granted.In fact, it is hard to fathom how he managed to keep an interested face amidst so many stories that could possibly only be of interest to those closest to them. He respected every story and ensured that the morning of his guests and viewers came alive.
In a striking sense he represented what we often bemoan to be missing in our media. A sense of balance between bulldog journalism and sunshine journalism. While bulldog journalism has its place... where journalists try too hard to be probing, if not watched or executed with finesse, it only serves to break down relationships. He resisted this. On the other hand, a sense of sunshine journalism where hard questions are avoided destroys all sense of credibility and causes audiences to vote with their feet. He can't possibly be accused of this.Producers knew that you couldn't possibly simply ask him to follow a script. In fact, he was many producers' dream... able to take direction but also applying his mind dynamically. He was the glue that made many mornings come alive.We could pay homage to him by rebuilding the institution that is the public broadcaster, giving journalists the time of day to make the mornings live. To have space to practice their craft in the way that he could look down and say "o bosso wena"Lately he had taken on the sign-off line "mentiro e ya bola bola", calling on all of us to live out our lives with good deeds. He has run a good race; he fought a good fight and made so many mornings come alive. May his morning never die.Rest in peace, Vuyo. Sharp, sharp. (Daily Maverick)
