Five moments from Xolani Gwala's life

Xolani Gwala's death has shocked the nation.

The veteran radio presenter died on Friday after a lengthy battle with colon cancer.

Here are five moments from the life of the man Mzansi grew to love.

Early broadcast days

Xolani worked as a broadcast journalist for at least two decades in SA and abroad.

Over the past few years, he worked as a reporter, news anchor, producer, talk show host, news editor and current affairs programme presenter in English and Zulu, on radio and television.

Joins 702

Xolani's work ethic earned him honour, respect and recognition in the industry.

As a result, he secured a job as a reporter on Radio 702 in 2000. The Xolani Gwala Show, one of the station's podcasts, explored local and international news and current affairs.

Getting married to Peggy Sue

Xolani was married to former Miss SA Peggy Sue Khumalo.

According to a Political Analysis post, he proposed to the CEO of Standard Bank SA Wealth Division at his 40th birthday party in Impendle, KwaZulu-Natal.

Cancer

In September 2017, the journalist announced that he had been diagnosed with colon cancer and would be off air to fight the disease.

In 2017, the journalist was diagnosed with cancer. In September of that year he announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer of the colon.

In the same year, he said that he would be off-air as he was fighting the disease.

Fighting cancer 

Three weeks after 702 announced that he would be taking a break, Xolani said he was not ready to die.

He told Drum magazine the diagnosis had shocked him, but that his family inspired him to fight.

“After this I've learned you've got to raise awareness. I don't smoke. I don't drink. I live well. I eat well. My parents don't have it, as far as I know ... so the thing about cancer is that it can happen to anyone.”

In 2018, and in remission, Xolani made his first public appearance in months at 702's Walk the Talk event in Emmerantia, Johannesburg.

A month later, he returned to the airwaves for a short time..