Two weeks ago, Koyo Bala wrote: “Just finished my radiation treatment 2day… #I’m going to win this battle ‘cancer’.
|||LERATO MBANGENI
JUST two weeks ago, Koyo Bala wrote: “Just finished my radiation treatment 2day… #I’m going to win this battle ‘cancer’.
”Yesterday, the country awoke to the news of his death in Cape Town.The above post, which was on his Instagram account – together with his bio: “HIV, TB and cancer survivor” – is an example of the fight the actor, TV and radio personality, award-winning musician and motivational speaker lived his life with.
Even though just last month he tweeted: “I pray 2 God every day 2 help me pass this cancer #itshard #pains #won’tgiveup #canwinthisbattle #cantsleepofpains”.
Bala’s battle with cancer began in 2012.
The 37-year-old found out he had cancer when he had a piles operation.He told the Sowetan then: “I was referred to Cape Town to do the operation by doctors in Joburg. The doctors told me they were surprised (I had the cancer) because it is something that is more prevalent in women.”
Bala shot to fame as part of the all-gay group 3Sum, together with Amstel Maboa and Jeff Moyo, who died in 2010.
Maboa posted a touching picture of himself and Bala in Durban last week on Twitter with a caption that said: “I remember this moment. The things we spoke abt… God who is gng to be my best friend now? RIP beautiful butterfly.”
I remember this moment the things we spoke abt God who is gng to be my best friend now RIP beautiful butterfly pic.twitter.com/0Ww3LIjrlC
— Amstel Entertainment (@AmstelDiva) March 7, 2016
The two were part of the many celebrities who headed to the coast for the Metro FM Awards last month.
Other celebrities who shared pictures from the weekend included Idols SA judge Somizi Mhlongo and TV presenter Bonang Matheba.
Mhlongo wrote: “And this wud be the last time we see him as we leave the airport. I’m shattered @koyo_bala rip.”
Matheba said: “To think we took this image a week ago at the Metro FM Awards, now you’re gone!! May your soul rest in peace Koyo.
“What a wonderful, consistent and loving human being you were. You’ll forever remain in our hearts. Rest In Peace. Such devastating news. Numb.”
Bala’s best friend and TV and radio personality Lerato Kganyago stayed away from social media tomourned, while another close friend of his, designer Ephraim Molingoana, said he was with him on Sunday.
He told DestinyOnline: “I was with him yesterday until midday, just before he flew down to Cape Town. He just looked at me and said ‘I love you friend’, and I said ‘I love you too’.
“I’ll miss his cooking the most. Yeah, he was a great cook and an amazing host. When we went down to Cape Town in December, we were planning to stay in a hotel, and he said: ‘No, you always come to my mother’s house, why are you staying in a hotel?’
“I’m glad I got to see him for the few hours.”
lerato.mbangeni@inl.co.za
The Star