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Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, entrepreneur and chef, was a visionary, a pioneer, and larger than life from a young age.
On Thursday, close friends and family gathered at Sacred Heart College in Observatory, Johannesburg, Motsoane’s high school where he matriculated, to pay their respects at his memorial service. Each person who spoke about him described him as larger than life, yet warm and loving.
Last Friday, Motsoane and his longtime friend and business partner Kiernan “AKA” Forbes were shot and killed outside Wish restaurant on Florida Road in Durban.
Motsoane’s parents and AKA’s family members arrived at the venue shortly after 5 p.m. to show their support.
Motsoane’s friends took turns speaking about the young man they grew up with and went on to be close to him, even in his adulthood.
One of his friends, Michael Cross, said a part of him died the day he found out that the music producer had died.
Cross added:
We come so far, my friend, and it breaks me to acknowledge that this is the end of our journey here on earth. Tibz was never one to let anything get him down for too long. In the few times that we spoke about the eventuality of death, he wanted us to celebrate our lives and reminisce about the great times together. Tibz, my brother, in your death, a part of me has died with you. So, wherever you go, I will go with you. You are not alone.
He mentioned that his friend was a man who loved to have good times with friends.
“Nothing is guaranteed in life but believe me when I say it was guaranteed that there would be laughter in his presence. A born storyteller, he had the talent of narrating the details of any story in a way that brought it to life. He was an adviser and, although not all his advice was taken, I loved the fact that he provided a very different perspective. A personality bigger than life itself, you felt his presence when he entered the room even though sometimes that was not his intention,” Cross stated.
Born and raised in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni, Motsoane was an only child. He started nursery school and matriculated at Sacred Heart College. He furthered his education through a basketball scholarship at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he obtained a degree in international relations and media studies.
Motsoane’s cousin Stephen Kitledi said he was totally gutted by this tremendous loss.
“The one thing I am going to miss is that engaging smile of his – the warmest, most inviting smile I have ever come across. Once you were with him and he started smiling with that chuckle of his, you knew it was going to be a good day.”
Kitledi said:
I stand before you gutted, but I take warmth in seeing the individuals that he touched through his friendship, art, profession or journey in this life. Uncle Sli and auntie Niniwe, you have lost a great son, but this is what Tibz was brought into this world to do. This is all his work.
Motsoane managed Forbes’ career during his early years as a solo rapper. He was also the founder of Show Love Consulting, a media agency. He also co-founded a clothing brand, Head Honcho, and started a new career path as a professional chef.
Yusuf Randera-Reez, who met Motsoane at school when they were four, described him as a humble, loving man.
“No matter how big of a persona he became. The only thing he ever greeted any of us with was a huge smile, a big hug and sincere questions about how our family was doing.”
Motsoane will be laid to rest at a private funeral on Saturday.
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