Eusebius McKaiser dead – author dies aged 45 after ‘suffering epileptic fit’ at South African home
AUTHOR Eusebius McKaiser has died at the age of 45 after suffering a suspected epileptic fit.
The broadcaster died in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Tuesday, according to his manager Jackie Styrdom.
She told TimesLIVE: “It all happened so quickly.
“His partner Nduduzo Nyanda is at the mortuary with his family. I am so distraught. I can’t believe this.”
McKaiser published several books – including A Bantu In My Bathroom and Run, Racist, Run.
He also wrote for the Daily Mail, The Guardian and The Sunday Times – and was a familiar voice on Talk Radio 702 and Power FM in Gauteng.
Tributes have poured in for the much-loved broadcaster.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said he was “a brilliant mind”.
“I followed his work, and I enjoyed his shows and interviews when he was at 702,” Magwenya said.
“He brought his own signature style to the radio. Condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.”
McKaiser’s pal Mark Heywood described the author as a “large-than-life person”.
“Eusebius was a very larger-than-life person, whose presence was sometimes like it was everywhere through his podcasts and his social media presence,” he said.
“He was a friend of mine and I think he was an innovative broadcaster and a very great thinker.
“Someone who, in certain key areas of life, was at the forefront of thinking about our conditions as a country.”
Born in Makhanda, also known as Grahamstown, in 1978, McKaiser studied law and philosophy at Rhodes University.
His biography on the university website described him as a political activist and an associate political and social analyst.
In one of his last posts on Twitter, McKaiser urged his followers to watch Musa Motha’s recent performance on Britain’s Got Talent.