Xolani Gwala was a popular South African reporter, news anchor, producer, talk show host, news editor, current affairs programme presenter best known as the host of Talk Radio 702’s Afternoon Drive and of the SABC1 talk show Asikhulume. He spent two decades in the broadcast industry.
Xolani attended St. Marys Secondary School, where he completed his Grade 12 education. He then went ahead to study a diploma in Public Relations Management or Media Studies at Natal Technikon, Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal, in 1993.
Xolani was the eldest child in a family of five children. He had three brothers and one sister and his parents are still alive.
Xolani Gwala Age
He was born in the year 1975 in Impendle, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa and died October 2019. Xolani was 44 years old as at the time of his death.
Xolani Gwala Wife
He proposed to Peggy Sue Khumalo a former Miss South Africa and CEO at the Standard Bank, South Africa in 1996. They tied the wedding knot in a simple ceremony in Impendle, Kwa Zulu Natal. Together, they have two lovely daughters.
Xolani Gwala Awards
- He was nominated for the Best Male Programme Presenter award for his role in Asikhulume. The show was also nominated for Best Talk Show in 2004.
- He was recognised in the list of top 300 Young South African media workers by Mail and Guardian in 2009.
- Asikhulume was recognised as second out of the top five talk shows in South Africa. It ranked 755th out of all the 2127 shows in the country. The show has over 1 million viewers. His shows, Asikhulume and PM Live, were recognised at engaging and the best places to learn about politics and current affairs in South Africa and across the world.
Xolani Gwala Cancer
Xolani was diagnosed with cancer. In September 2017, Xolani confirmed that he had been diagnosed with colon cancer during an interview on 702. Chatting to Stephen Grootes at the time, Xolani said that the cancer was “quite advanced”. “After thorough investigations, they found that I have colon cancer which was advanced. Quite advanced.”
Before the diagnosis, he had a fever and was feeling ill. He was put on antibiotics but did not get better. His wife, Peggy Sue, suggested that he should seek further medical attention.
After conducting tests, the doctors discovered that he had cancer in the liver and traced it back to the colon. The disease was at an advanced stage, but the perfect health of his unaffected organs enabled him to get treatment immediately. Xolani Gwala oncologist has been observing him closely ever since the diagnosis was made.
As per his latest update, he was in remission from cancer. He credited the support from his wife, Peggy Sue, as the reason why he made it alive. He and his wife are also thankful to the medical team that took care of him, and for the overwhelming support, they received from South Africans.
Xolani Gwala Death
Xolani Gwala died at the age of 44 after succumbing to a lengthy battle with cancer. The family confirmed the news on Friday, November 1st, 2019 on Talk Radio 702.