THE funeral service for Ponko Masiba, the editor-in-chief of Let’s Praise Magazine and a former Daily Dispatch photographer who died in Nigerian religious leader TB Joshua’s guesthouse disaster,
will be held in Hudson High’s Centenary Hall, East London, at 9am on Saturday.
Masiba was on assignment in Nigeria when the structure accommodating pilgrims to Joshua’s Synagogue Church of All Nations collapsed on September 12.
His widow, Tobeka Tongo-Masiba, said: “I am heartbroken. This is not acceptable.
“I find it difficult that Ponko is no more. I hope I will have closure after the funeral.”
The couple met in 1985 in Cape Town. Tongo-Masiba described him as “friend, a husband and father”.
“It was love at first sight,” she said after a memorial service in Queenstown on Tuesday.
Masiba worked as a photojournalist for numerous publications, including the now-defunct Imvo Zabantsundu, Kei Mercury, the Bhisho/King Capital and City Vision in the Western Cape.
Masiba worked for Media 24 and was Sunday Sun regional editor before he started Let’s Praise with his wife, Tobeka.
He covered services and church events throughout southern Africa. His last job was to report on the TB Joshua phenomenon in Nigeria.
He planned to revive Imvo Zabantsundu next year.
Masiba, who was based in East London, grew up in Whittlesea and Cape Town.
Former colleague, Eric Naki, now regional editor of The New Age, described Masiba as a great journalist and committed lensman.
Naki said: “Ponko loved his family. He died on the job like a soldier. As a believer too, he died in a worship house and for sure angels carried his soul to his almighty,” Naki said.
The funeral of Phumzile Mpondo, who also died in the tragedy, will take place tomorrow at the NU15 hall in Mdantsane while the late Thomas Matsila’s funeral will be on Saturday in Queenstown. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Masiba to be laid to rest
will be held in Hudson High’s Centenary Hall, East London, at 9am on Saturday.
Masiba was on assignment in Nigeria when the structure accommodating pilgrims to Joshua’s Synagogue Church of All Nations collapsed on September 12.
His widow, Tobeka Tongo-Masiba, said: “I am heartbroken. This is not acceptable.
“I find it difficult that Ponko is no more. I hope I will have closure after the funeral.”
The couple met in 1985 in Cape Town. Tongo-Masiba described him as “friend, a husband and father”.
“It was love at first sight,” she said after a memorial service in Queenstown on Tuesday.
Masiba worked as a photojournalist for numerous publications, including the now-defunct Imvo Zabantsundu, Kei Mercury, the Bhisho/King Capital and City Vision in the Western Cape.
Masiba worked for Media 24 and was Sunday Sun regional editor before he started Let’s Praise with his wife, Tobeka.
He covered services and church events throughout southern Africa. His last job was to report on the TB Joshua phenomenon in Nigeria.
He planned to revive Imvo Zabantsundu next year.
Masiba, who was based in East London, grew up in Whittlesea and Cape Town.
Former colleague, Eric Naki, now regional editor of The New Age, described Masiba as a great journalist and committed lensman.
Naki said: “Ponko loved his family. He died on the job like a soldier. As a believer too, he died in a worship house and for sure angels carried his soul to his almighty,” Naki said.
The funeral of Phumzile Mpondo, who also died in the tragedy, will take place tomorrow at the NU15 hall in Mdantsane while the late Thomas Matsila’s funeral will be on Saturday in Queenstown. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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