The father of the the late Jam Alley presenter, who was also a TV legend, passed away yesterday.  Collins Mashego, the father of Vinolia "V-Mash" Mashego, pioneer of the showbiz industry, presented two music shows, Lapologa and Di A Rora, in the mid-80s and early 90s, respectively. 

BATTLE WITH CANCER

Mashego passed away yesterday at his Mamelodi Gardens home. His daughter-in-law, Palesa Reneilwe Mashego, confirmed that Mashego suffered from cancer after he was diagnosed in 2021. "But the doctors said it was cleared in 2023. My mother-in-law, Betty Mashego, was taking care of him and nursing him all the time," said Palesa adding that unfortunately Betty died in April last year from heart failure.

Palesa explained, "The doctors told us in September 2023 that the cancer was in remission but it came back again in April this year. Whenever we took him to the hospital, they only gave him pills and told him to leave. This is despite the fact that he felt pain all over his body. We suspect that cancer had spread all over the body and damaged all his organs," Palesa said. She added that Mashego has been bed-ridden since April.

HE WAS ALSO A MUSICIAN

Mashego, who would have turned 83 on 2 November, was originally from Alexandra. He played drums for a local group called The Anchors. He also wrote a stage play called Unfaithful Woman in collaboration with music promoter Sam Mhangwani. Mashego, who introduced his late loud-mouthed Vinolia on TV when they both presented Di A Rora. Vinolia , who presented the popular TV youth show, Jam Alley, died in April 2020 during COVID-19. Vinolia's son, Oratile, has followed in their footsteps and is known on social media as Coachella Randy. He will be buried on Saturday