Rugby commentator Ntunja passes away

It was announced by his sister Tando on behalf of the family that he had passed away.

"It is with deep sadness that I confirm the passing of our beloved brother Kaunda Ntunja, earlier today in East London, Eastern Cape,” she posted. “As you can imagine, we still trying to make sense of this tragic news and we ask for your love, care and discretion as we prepare to lay my big brother to rest."

Ntunja put isiXhosa rugby commentary on the map through his spine-tingling monologues and many rugby lovers throughout the country, whether they could understand or not, will never forget his commentary when Makazole Mapimpi scored South Africa’s opening try of the Rugby World Cup final last year.

His introduction of Siya Kolisi as our test captain in 2018 was another moment that rugby fans will never forget. These moments endeared Ntunja to the rugby watching public in South Africa.

He was also an integral part of the rugby weekly magazine show Phaka.

President of the South African Rugby Union Mark Alexander paid tribute to the 38 year-old on Twitter.

“We are deeply saddened at the loss of one of our most-beloved rugby sons, Kaunda Ntunja, who passed away at the age of 38 this morning,” Alexander said.

“Kaunda left an indelible mark on the local rugby landscape and we will miss seeing his broad smile and hearing his voice at our rugby matches in future – this is a tragic loss, he left us too soon.

“He was a true rugby pioneer – the first black African SA Schools captain, a Currie Cup winner and a ground-breaking SuperSport commentator.

“Our thoughts are with the Ntunja family and all of his friends and colleagues for this terrible loss – the South African rugby community is much poorer without Kaunda Ntunja,” concluded Mr Alexander.

Ntunja played flank and captained the South African Schools team in 2000 and was a member of the 2005 Currie Cup winning Cheetah’s squad.