By Monwabisi Jimlongo
The funeral service of the late iconic sport commentator Dumile ‘Phesheya Phaya’ Mateza, who passed away aged 62 after he lost a cancer battle on Tuesday, is going to be held in Johannesburg next Friday.
This was confirmed by Mateza family spokesperson Mandisa Titi, who also added that a memorial service is going to be held at the SABC in Auckland Park on Wednesday.
“A few years ago, Dumile lost his son Ntlakohlaza and he buried him here in Johannesburg. It is for that reason that the family decided that he should be buried next to his son. The funeral is on Friday, the 11th of February. We were fortunate that his former employer the SABC has offered that his memorial service be held at its headquarters in Auckland Park on Wednesday,” Titi said.
Kareedouw-born Mateza, a former acting chief executive officer of the then South African National Boxing Control Commission (SANBCC), made his name as a versatile sport commentator at the SABC.
The one-time Boxing South Africa (BSA) board member was one of the finest and most knowledgeable sport commentators in South Africa having commentated both on SABC radio and TV. Mateza did commentary in isiXhosa, English and Afrikaans.
