Books, not flowers, at SA media star's memorial

South African news sites have been reporting on a memorial service held in honour of renowned journalist and political commentator Eusebius McKaiser, whose sudden death last week at the age of 45 shocked the nation.

News24 reports that people were requested to bring to the memorial one of his great loves, books, rather than flowers, that would be donated to a charity.

"The request was just one of the many ways the broadcaster, author and political analyst was remembered for his intellectual prowess and eloquence in communicating his sometimes radical and passionate ideas," the site reports.

SowetanLive reports that vocalist Lyla Faye performed Revolution by Tracy Chapman, while all the speakers described him as "extremely intelligent, witty, full of love and passionate".

In his address, McKaiser's partner Nduduzo Nyanda said: "What I'll miss the most are our Sunday nights and our rituals. I'll miss his cheesy music, his love of 80s music. What I'll miss the most is knowing I have somebody who loved fully and who gave himself fully."

McKaiser died after suffering a suspected epileptic seizure.

He was outspoken about racism and a strong advocate of the rights of the LGBT community.

McKaiser hosted talk shows and wrote columns for various local and international publications.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

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