South Africa mourns radio legend Kevin Savage

Savage passed on while working as a presenter at Hot 102.7 FM where he hosted the Classic Countdown show on Sundays.

“It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of a Hot 102.7 radio legend,” Hot 102.7 FM said in a statement. “A few hours ago, Kevin Savage lost his battle with cancer. Kevin was diagnosed with terminal cancer over four years ago and fought heroically till the very end.

“His request since his diagnosis was to continue doing his radio shows until he couldn’t anymore. Over the past few weeks, Kevin’s condition deteriorated rapidly and he requested that we play some of his older recordings of the Classic Countdown until he was well enough to be back behind the microphone. Kevin died peacefully with his family by his side. Radio was Kevin’s life, and he loved his listeners.”

Colleagues in the media have also been sending condolences to Savage’s family and friends.

“Today we lost one of our own. Kevin Savage was a mentor and radio legend,” fellow veteran radio and TV presenter Mark Pilgrim, who is also battling stage four lung cancer, wrote on social media. “Sav, you will be sorely missed. Your velvet voice will forever be in our hearts.”

Hot 102.7 producer and broadcaster Ursula Chikane wrote: “Such a sore heart tonight. We've lost an incredible radio legend. Rest in peace, Kevin Savage. Thank you for the inspiration, for sharing your talent with us and for being the light in our radio world.”

eNCA programme editor Lynne O'Connor wrote: “Another radio legend has fallen. RIP to The Sav. Many, many happy years listening to Kevin Savage. Condolences to all who loved him.”

In his early career, Savage worked at Capital 604 before moving on to 5FM.

Meanwhile, South Africans are also mourning the passing of local columnist Barry Ronge who passed away in Johannesburg on 3 July. He was 74.

Award-winning investigative television journalist Devi Sankaree Govender wrote on social media: “Sad to hear of the passing of these two legends Kevin Savage and Barry Ronge. I was always glued to Capital Radio listening to Kevin and followed him wherever he went. I consumed everything Barry from his Spit and Polish columns to his movie reviews in the Sunday Times.”

Journalist, writer and publisher Same Mathe wrote: “I never cared about Barry Ronge’s film and theatre reviews. It was never about the subject matter. I enjoyed his elegant, superior prose. I looked forward to reading the likes of Spit and Polish in the Sunday Times solely because of how he expressed himself. His masterful presentation left an indelible impression. He was an institution and in his own league. Condolences to his partner and family.”

As an acknowledgement of his contributions to South Africa’s cultural life, the Sunday Times awarded Ronge a lifetime achievement award in 2014. In 2015, the publication announced that its fiction prize would be renamed after Ronge.