Xolani Gwala to be laid to rest in Impendle
Preparations are under way for the funeral service of well-known journalist and broadcaster Xolani Gwala in his hometown in the KZN Midlands this weekend.
A second memorial service is taking place at the Impendle Community Hall on Thursday.
KZN-born Gwala died last week, at the age of 44, after battling cancer.
READ: Tributes pour in after seasoned broadcaster Xolani Gwala dies
Speaking at the Johannesburg memorial service yesterday, his brother Mdu said his final days were difficult.
"Thanks everybody who was supporting him in whatever he was doing here in Johannesburg. We appreciate it. That we lost him, we still can't believe it."
"I was there with him when he passed on, I was with him at the ward. In the morning, I'd go check on him trying to help in whatever way because I was hoping that my brother would still make it," he said.
Close friend, Gcina Malindi said Gwala told doctors he wants to fight the disease until the very end.
"When he went for the second opinion in early October, an the Oncologist seeing all the result asked him 'Do you want to give up or fight?' He rose from his slouching position and said 'I want to fight,'" says Malindi.
Colleagues shared moving tributes about the seasoned journalist, describing him as a formidable person.
Gwala's funeral service will be on Saturday, 9 November in Impendle in KwaZulu-Natal.
