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Tributes from politicians, including the Presidency, to radio DJs and other celebrities, have poured in since the radio jock’s untimely passing on Monday. 

In a statement, the radio station, where Mabena hosted the POWER Breakfast, said the memorial and funeral services will be streamed live on their website www.power.co.za, Facebook POWER 98.7, Twitter @ Power987 and Instagram Power 98.7. 

“We recognise and appreciate that Mr Bob Mabena belonged to many South Africans, due to lockdown regulations we will not be able to accommodate all people who may wish to pay their last respects. We wish to encourage people to feel free and set up their own virtual memorial services in his honour,” read the statement. 

The Memorial will take place on Thursday, 13 August 2020 at 3pm while the Funeral Service will take place on Saturday at 12.30pm 

Legendary radio and television broadcaster Mabena was in the middle of organising the launch party for the album he had released two weeks before his death yesterday. 

Mabena died of cardiac arrest at the age of 51, sending a massive shockwave through SA’s entertainment industry and fans who have followed his 31-year career in showbiz… 

Bob Mabena’s wife, Eucharist, was driving him home from hospital on Monday when he suddenly suffered a cardiac arrest and stopped breathing. A few hours later, he was gone. 

The veteran radio and TV host’s death has sent shock waves across the nation, and left his family devastated. 

“The family are at a stage where it is starting to settle in. As you can imagine, it was traumatic for everyone when we all found out initially. It is a roller-coaster ride, emotionally,” family spokesperson Winston Maimane told TshisaLIVE. 

Winston said Bob first fell ill on Friday, and on Saturday was told by his doctor to go to hospital. He spent Saturday and Sunday in hospital receiving treatment and was told he would be discharged on Monday morning. 

However, things took a turn for the worse once Bob left the hospital and was on his way home. 

“I got a call from his wife while they were still driving home to say that he had basically just stopped breathing. She said they had just left the hospital and so I told her to make a U-turn and take him back. 

“We all rushed there, me and some other friends of his, and we sat with his wife and four-year-old child for two hours while they tried to resuscitate him. Eventually, around two in the afternoon, they confirmed that he had passed.” 

Winston said Bob’s death was sudden and when he had spoken to his friend on Sunday night the star was in high spirits. 

“He was very upbeat. The conversation we had was to check up on his progress. He confirmed that he was leaving on Monday and we continued to have a normal conversation about getting him Nandos after leaving the hospital. He wasn’t stressed. He was joking around.” 

As someone who was one of his closest friends and shared many special moments with Bob, Winston said he was heartbroken by his friend’s death. 

“I lost a brother, that’s all I know. I don’t know how anyone fills a gap like this. He meant so much to everyone, especially his family. It is a big gap that has been created, it is massive.”