Melanie Bids Farewell To Bob Mabena

Bob Mabena’s colleague and long time friend Melanie Bala has penned a heartfelt tribute to Bob and comforting his wife Eucharist Mabena.

The duo worked together for decades and had a friendship like no other. Breaking her silence over his passing, she wrote a lengthy social media post reflecting on the kind of person the late veteran radio personality was. From the very first day they met to the last time they spoke, Melanie laid out all her emotions in commemoration of her dear friend.

“Waking up in a world without Bob is surreal. In a conversation about a legacy project he was busy with, I told him: “You my friend, have LIVED!!” And live he did.
Unapologetically so.

“As a young Black man from Atteridgeville, the limit did not exist for Bob. If he wanted it, he went for it. The prospect of failure be damned,” she wrote.

The media personality reminisced on the time they started out as young people in the industry and how they had each other’s backs irregardless of the circumstances. Melanie spoke highly of her friend who consulted her when in need, calling him her TV husband.

“When an idea excited him, late night texts were not unusual, followed by a “Oh sh*t, sorry, I didn’t realize the time”. We were just two kids from Pretoria, who were having the time of our lives – it just happened to be on the biggest TV music show in the country…my ‘TV Husband’ – I will miss you desperately.

“I ask everyone to lift up the people who gave him his greatest joy: his wife Eucharist and his children, and all his family and friends; with love + strength, during this unbearable time. “Our friendship was written in the stars”, you said. Indeed it was. I’ll see you on the other side of the stars. Rest well, Bob,” she concluded.