3SUM member Koyo Bala who died yesterday morning never entertained death even when confronted by HIV and cancer.
His close friend, fashion designer, Ephraim "Ephymol" Molingoana said Bala was a brave fighter.
"He spoke life all the time, death was not his language," he said.
Bala, 39, had gone public with his positive HIV status and anal cancer. His 3Sum was a music group of three openly gay men. Others were Jeff Moyo and Amstel Maboa.
The latter is the only surviving member. Moyo died in 2010.
Molingoana would be one of the last friends to see Bala alive. He drove him to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon to fly back home to Cape Town. Bala attended the Metro FM Music Awards in Durban last month and flew back to Johannesburg before heading back home.
Molingoana said he looked frail and was put on a wheelchair to board the plane.
"At the airport he held my hand and said ndiyakuthanda 'va (I love you, okay?) and I said 'I love you too'," Molingoana reminisced.
He said he first met Bala in 1995 in Cape Town through the late music icon Brenda Fassie. Bala moved to Johannesburg in 1999. They shared a house for 10 years. After his diagnosis Bala made his battle public, sharing videos on Instagram after his radiation treatment and talking openly about his ill-health.
Bala told a newspaper that in addition to anal cancer, doctors had detected colorectal cancer that affects the lower part of the bowels and rectum.
"I was told I must take six months off my schedule to get better. It is going to be a difficult few months, but I know I can beat this cancer," Bala said last year.
The Metros were the last big event he attended nine days ago.
He had moved back to Cape Town and was being treated at Groote Schuur Hospital.
Molingoana described him as the "most loving" person.
"He gave to people even when he didn't have much. What an amazing soul. I will always remember his laughter and crazy comedy. Everything was over the top with him. He lived his life to the fullest. He was a quiet activist who didn't wait to be appointed a cancer ambassador. He spoke about it."
Molingoana said they spent last December together in Cape Town at Bala's late mother's Gugulethu house.
He said Bala attended the J&B Met in January in Cape Town but was unusually quiet.
Bala is survived by three sisters, two nieces and a nephew. He will be buried on March 19 in Cape Town.
mofokengl@sowetan.co.za
'I will always remember his laughter and crazy comedy'
3SUM member Koyo Bala who died yesterday morning never entertained death even when confronted by HIV and cancer.
His close friend, fashion designer, Ephraim "Ephymol" Molingoana said Bala was a brave fighter.
"He spoke life all the time, death was not his language," he said.
Bala, 39, had gone public with his positive HIV status and anal cancer. His 3Sum was a music group of three openly gay men. Others were Jeff Moyo and Amstel Maboa.
The latter is the only surviving member. Moyo died in 2010.
Molingoana would be one of the last friends to see Bala alive. He drove him to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon to fly back home to Cape Town. Bala attended the Metro FM Music Awards in Durban last month and flew back to Johannesburg before heading back home.
Molingoana said he looked frail and was put on a wheelchair to board the plane.
"At the airport he held my hand and said ndiyakuthanda 'va (I love you, okay?) and I said 'I love you too'," Molingoana reminisced.
He said he first met Bala in 1995 in Cape Town through the late music icon Brenda Fassie. Bala moved to Johannesburg in 1999. They shared a house for 10 years. After his diagnosis Bala made his battle public, sharing videos on Instagram after his radiation treatment and talking openly about his ill-health.
Bala told a newspaper that in addition to anal cancer, doctors had detected colorectal cancer that affects the lower part of the bowels and rectum.
"I was told I must take six months off my schedule to get better. It is going to be a difficult few months, but I know I can beat this cancer," Bala said last year.
The Metros were the last big event he attended nine days ago.
He had moved back to Cape Town and was being treated at Groote Schuur Hospital.
Molingoana described him as the "most loving" person.
"He gave to people even when he didn't have much. What an amazing soul. I will always remember his laughter and crazy comedy. Everything was over the top with him. He lived his life to the fullest. He was a quiet activist who didn't wait to be appointed a cancer ambassador. He spoke about it."
Molingoana said they spent last December together in Cape Town at Bala's late mother's Gugulethu house.
He said Bala attended the J&B Met in January in Cape Town but was unusually quiet.
Bala is survived by three sisters, two nieces and a nephew. He will be buried on March 19 in Cape Town.
mofokengl@sowetan.co.za
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