Described as bold, unique, a small ball of energy and a warrior, the loss of fiery entrepreneur, author and former The Herald columnist Kazeka Mashologu-Kuse has been a devastating blow for those who watched her fight cancer with determined bravery.
Mashologu-Kuse, who faced breast cancer head-on, writing a book about it – #Braveheartwith Red Lipstick –proudly posed for photo shoots after a mastectomy to show the world that she would not be robbed of her femininity.
Mashologu-Kuse, 34, had seemingly beaten the dread disease, first diagnosed three years ago, but discovered that it had returned a few weeks before she died.
She succumbed to the illness on Tuesday afternoon.
Friend and colleague Glenda Perumal, of the Black Management Forum (BMF), said the cancer “returned like a hurricane” in its devastating swiftness.
Mashologu-Kuse’s pastor, Gabriel Ntshikose, described the loss as enormous.
He said Mashologu-Kuse was vibrant, intelligent, stubborn and a beautiful soul.
“She was a maverick who was a straight talker and a genuine person,” he said.
“It’s an incredibly sad time but I take solace in the fact that her journey with the Lord became really strong during the last little while.”
Ntshikose said Mashologu-Kuse had started to feel her health declining in February.
“She had been completely cleared, but in February she started feeling a little different when it came to energy levels.”
She later told him that the cancer had returned.
Perumal said: “We became close when she brought Thuli Madonsela to Port Elizabeth.
“We [BMF and Mashologu-Kuse’s company Daring Media] collaborated to bring her to the Bay – she became part of the BMF leadership, doing media.”
Perumal described Mashologu-Kuse as a go-getter, a warrior and a powerful woman.
Perumal said the cancer Mashologu-Kuse had been so pleased to beat had “returned, almost like a hurricane”.
Mashologu-Kuse never let anything, not even illness, get her down, she said.
Friend Michelle Petrelis described Mashologu-Kuse as a small ball of energy, fire and determination.
“I first met Kazeka in 2009 while I was working as marketing manager for the Radisson Blu hotel,” Petrelis said.
“Fresh out of uni, she immediately caught my attention.
“She approached me to do an event – something we would do together over the decade which followed.
“We affectionately referred to each other as rogues, always going in the opposite direction from the herd.
“I never tired of her company, the wonderful stories she would relay, her infectious laugh and her endless capacity to never let life get her down.
“We spoke five days ago and were making plans to get together again.
“She told me the cancer was back, stage 4, very aggressive.
“I told her to hang in there, [saying] ‘Kazzie, you still have so much life to live, love to give and stories to write’. I will miss her so much.”
Friend Buli G Ngomane said she was proud of Mashologu-Kuse and her courage.
“There are so few brave, bold, unique role models for young black women and she was that.”
Aside from The Herald, Mashologu-Kuse wrote for the Daily Dispatch, O Magazine, City Press and Women24.
She was a Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber Top 40 under-40 achiever in 2014 at the age of just 29.