By: Natasha Archary
South African journalist, Redi Tlhabi has remembered Eusebius McKaiser as a friend who loved loudly and emphatically.
The former 702 radio presenter who passed away at the age of 45-years after suffering an epileptic seizure, was remembered at a touching memorial service on Tuesday, 06 June.
Eusebius, an author and political analyst died at his home on 30 May. While most of his friends paid him touching tributes, Gareth Cliff said he never liked Eusebius, calling him a poisonous and horrible person.
Speaking on CliffCentral after Eusebius’ passing, Cliff didn’t hold back on his fellow radio colleague saying he never liked Eusebius.
“He wrote vicious, unkind, and divisive columns. I didn’t have time for this guy. I’m not going to be one of those people who pretends I’m sad, now that he’s gone.”
Gareth Cliff on Eusebius McKaiser’s passing
On the back of Cliff’s comments, one of Eusebius’ close friends, Redi Tlhabi defended her late friend, saying comments about him being arrogant were not true because he was in fact lathered in humility.
“There are moments when silence is the best language, when no words or superlatives can describe the turmoil within. This is that moment for me. I am completely unmoored by Eusebius’ passing.
We’ve all lost people, it’s not the first time we’re remembering loved ones we’ve lost, but it hits differently and it’s one of those moments where I wake up in the middle of the night and I think, what am I going to do?”
Redi Tlhabi at Eusebius McKaiser’s memorial service
Wiping away tears, an emotional Redi chose not to share intimate memories of her friendship with Eusebius saying it would only see her spiraling into grief due to her fragility.
He was a f**king gossip but even his gossip was rooted in respect
In her touching tribute, Redi remembered Eusebius for building friendships that were rooted in respect.
“He loved loudly, and emphatically, not waiting for another day to express the depth of his love, and that has been a source of comfort. I know that he knew I adored him, and I know that he loved me.
I laughed as I replayed some of the conversations that would start with, ‘You know the thing I love about you is…’, and there would be a whole preamble about what he loved about me, and I know that he did exactly the same with his other friends.
The last thing I want to say about his friendship, which echoes everything you guys have said, was that he was a f**king gossip.
I say this with no judgement because I am a f**king gossip. But here’s the thing, he’s gossiped about every single one of us, and you know you’ve gossiped about him too.
But the gossip also had respect, because he would articulate the person’s strong points, while gossiping about them.
In one instance, I know he sat in a huge gossip session about me, one which he probably led, but afterwards, he came to me and told me to get out of that environment because it was too vile for me to be in.”
Redi Tlhabi said Eusebius was a gossip but he always had her back
There were no flowers at Eusebius McKaiser’s memorial, with the family asking instead for people to bring along a book which would be donated to a charity of their choice in his honour.
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