Sowetan Reporter
Sowetan Reporter
Sphiwe Lawrence Masuku, commonly known as uMasuku, whose family and friends say was a man of the people who lived his life to the fullest despite a long illness, was an important figure in his church.
His health started to deteriorate in 2006 and he was forced to resign from his job at Edgars City in Johannesburg.
He had been involved in student politics, church activities and social events, and handled these with ease and enthusiasm, says a friend.
After matriculating at Mncube Secondary School in Mofolo, Soweto, in 1992, he enrolled for a diploma in financial management accounting with Technikon South Africa in 1994.
His passion for the advancement of students' rights and transformation of the institution, particularly distance education, saw him being elected to serve on the SRC of the Johannesburg study centre of the technikon in 1995.
He served in various committees and in different capacities of the SRC, ranging from organiser to deputy secretary.
Most students who interacted with him ended in his inner circles. "Once you knew Sphiwe there was no turning back as he had an inborn ability to bring together people of different cultural and ethnic origins," says the friend.
Masuku was the second son of the late founder of the Free Apostolic Faith Mission in Zion, Archbishop Masuku.
He did not seek to be ordained or elected to a position of power in the church by virtue of being the son of the founder of the church, but preferred to serve the church by providing administrative assistance and active participation in its youth structures, says the friend.
Masuku became ill overnight on March 11 and was admitted the same day to Chris Hani- Baragwanath Hospital, where he died in the early hours of March 14.
He is survived by his daughter Ntokozo, a sister and a brother.
He will be buried at Avalon Cemetery tomorrow. His funeral service will be held at Makhaya Hall in Zondi, Soweto, from 9am. The cortege will leave for the cemetery at noon.
uMasuku enjoyed life
Sowetan Reporter
Sowetan Reporter
Sphiwe Lawrence Masuku, commonly known as uMasuku, whose family and friends say was a man of the people who lived his life to the fullest despite a long illness, was an important figure in his church.
His health started to deteriorate in 2006 and he was forced to resign from his job at Edgars City in Johannesburg.
He had been involved in student politics, church activities and social events, and handled these with ease and enthusiasm, says a friend.
After matriculating at Mncube Secondary School in Mofolo, Soweto, in 1992, he enrolled for a diploma in financial management accounting with Technikon South Africa in 1994.
His passion for the advancement of students' rights and transformation of the institution, particularly distance education, saw him being elected to serve on the SRC of the Johannesburg study centre of the technikon in 1995.
He served in various committees and in different capacities of the SRC, ranging from organiser to deputy secretary.
Most students who interacted with him ended in his inner circles. "Once you knew Sphiwe there was no turning back as he had an inborn ability to bring together people of different cultural and ethnic origins," says the friend.
Masuku was the second son of the late founder of the Free Apostolic Faith Mission in Zion, Archbishop Masuku.
He did not seek to be ordained or elected to a position of power in the church by virtue of being the son of the founder of the church, but preferred to serve the church by providing administrative assistance and active participation in its youth structures, says the friend.
Masuku became ill overnight on March 11 and was admitted the same day to Chris Hani- Baragwanath Hospital, where he died in the early hours of March 14.
He is survived by his daughter Ntokozo, a sister and a brother.
He will be buried at Avalon Cemetery tomorrow. His funeral service will be held at Makhaya Hall in Zondi, Soweto, from 9am. The cortege will leave for the cemetery at noon.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos