Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

South African sports leaders have reacted with shock at the news about the untimely death of prominent SABC News sports journalist Maseru Koaho.

Popularly known as "Serus" in South African sports circles, Koaho died in a car accident in Westonaria on his way home on Saturday night.

Koaho was due to leave for Algiers, Algeria, yesterday to cover the All Africa Games for the public broadcaster.

Molefi Oliphant, Safa president, said he held Koaho in high esteem because of his objectivity in reporting the news.

"It is painful, this is a real untimely death. We have lost a journalist who was always objective, always available and giving right perspective of issues," said Oliphant.

"There are few objective journalists like him. He was very humble. On behalf of Safa, our deepest condolences to the Koaho family."

Moss Mashishi, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) president, said the death of Koaho was a devastating blow to sport in the country.

"On a personal note, and from the board of Sascoc and our federations, we are totally shocked to hear about the passing on of Maseru," he said.

"This is a real dark cloud, Maseru was one journalist who was totally committed to the development of sports and development activities.

"I was with him on Friday night [in Pretoria] when he interviewed me about the All Africa Games in Algeria this week.

"It was at night, which is a clear indication that the man loved his job. Our condolences to his family - he will be sorely missed by all of us.

"Maseru was leaving with Team South Africa today [yesterday] to Algeria, he was looking forward to covering the tournament."

Athletics South Africa president Leonard Chuene said: "I still can't believe that Ntate Maseru is no more, what a loss to sports journalism.

"Ntate Maseru was one of the few journalists who really cared about codes like athletics, [and was] very humble during his interviews.

"He excelled in everything that he did on duty, going to the extent of doing interviews in Afrikaans for the viewers of SABC news who speak the language."

Shihan Peter "Poison" Thage of Karate South Africa said: "On behalf of all the karate styles, our condolences to the Koaho family.

"We have lost a great man in sports journalism."

Former Basketball South Africa deputy president Malumbete Ralethe said: "We were with him on Friday, he was excited about going to Algeria."

Pat "Fingers" Moyaha, Limpopo Golf Association publicist, said: "It is great sadness that we've learnt about the death of Maseru."