By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa’s media personality Jeremy Mansfield has passed away at the age of 59 after a dreadful battle with cancer.
Mansfield’s death was confirmed by his close friend and former colleague, Samantha Cowen, in a statement on Monday morning.
“This morning a light went out in the world. Jeremy Mansfield passed away just before dawn. He died peacefully at home surrounded by family and friends and boundless love.”
Jeremy lived large, he didn’t know how to do small. He loved hard, laughed loud and managed to combine mischief and mayhem with heart and soul. The city was brighter and lighter with him on the airwaves, he changed lives every day. When he wasn’t raising millions for charity, he was raising fresh hell!
“He was determined that the world be a better and shinier and funnier place and he drove the road to that destination at 1 000 miles an hour with no rear view mirror, all of the rest of us clinging on for dear life!”
The radio personality announced in January that he was diagnosed with liver cancer.
Born Robert Jeremy Clayton Mansfield on 15 August 1963 in Makhanda, Mansfield had a career that spanned decades, bringing entertainment and laughter to many on then 94.7.
His show, the Rude Awakening, saw listeners looking forward to the journey to work just to hear what Mansfield and his team would do next.
He was not only known for the Rude Awakening, he had a keen interest in sport working both on SuperSport and later worked as a sport presenter on the John Berks show on 702.
Mansfield also featured prominently on TV and co-presented on Laugh Out Loud with Darren “Wackhead” Simpson.
He returned to radio in November 2018, as the host of the breakfast show Mansfield In the Morning on Hot 91.9fm.
In July 2021, he started a YouTube channel Mansfield2day, which released daily vodcasts hosted by himself, featuring co-presenters who are experts in the fields of business, law, medicine and fun.
He released a series of CDs containing the best of his on-air jokes and exploits, while also writing joke books, and being a master chef, co-authoring the multi award-winning cookbook – Zhoozsh!
Tributes pour in for Jeremy Mansfield:
Mark Pilgrim, who is fighting his own cancer battle, said “goodbye” on Twitter.
“The radio industry is a family. Today we say goodbye to one of our own. Always remembered. Goodbye big guy. RIP Jeremy.”
“Rest in Peace Jeremy Mansfield. The blueprint. The man who paved the path for us in radio. Rest now chap,” Anele Mdoda tweeted.
94.7 radio host Bruce Whitfield tweeted: “A giant oke has fallen – I have known Jeremy Mansfield since I was two. We share a common ancestry. He was a superhero to me as a kid and I was in awe of his brilliance as an adult. He brought joy, and occasional rage, to millions. Well done Jem.”
“Jeremy Mansfield was absolutely larger than life,” Radio 702 host Bongani Bingwa said during his breakfast show as the news came in.
Legendary John Robbie said Hard to believe that Jeremy Mansfield has passed on. ‘Larger than life’ does not do him justice. A totally unique person on and off the radio. Hamba kahle old mate.
The South African government has sent its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of South African radio veteran Mansfield.
“Mansfield contributed immensely to the world of entertainment via the radio as a communication platform. He has left an indelible mark on South African radio,” said GCIS Director-General, Phumla Williams.