The definition of legendary: is someone or something that has become famous or well-known, usually as a result of a distinctive or unique characteristic or skill.
That’s what Vuyo Mbuli was, a humble and gentle legend of South African TV and radio journalism. Throughout this month of May, after his passing on, people were praising Vuyo for his ever present, personality in our lives through media, but perhaps what he should be praised more for being the Man he was, the father he was.
Bataung Memorial was honoured to assist the Mbuli family, the best way they know how. Bataung built Vuyo Mbuli a memorial stone worthy of the legend he was.
After unveiling the Tombstone of Vuyo Mbuli about a week ago, Bataung started receiving media queries and questions from the public about their business, in particular about Vuyo’s tombstone and how it was made, prices and other related enquiries. The tombstone manufacturers from Katlehong made a decision at that moment to rather hold off on any media engagement to allow the Mbuli’s space to deal with their loss.
Who is Bataung Memorial?
It’s impossible to tell the story of the Bataung without telling the story of Jacob Khitsane. Jacob Khitsane like his son and owner of Bataung Memorials was a serial businessman, he is well known for his business prowess and ability to sell anything. Lebohang often says of his father: “He could sell rice to the Chinese.”, but most importantly Jacob Khitsane was a mentor and wonderful father to his children; he made a big impact on Lebohang as a child and as an Adult.
The reason this is important is because this is the story of the Bataung Memorials, This business was founded on a son’s love for his father. When Jacob Khitsane passed it had a profound impact on Lebohang. He had a desire to honour his father and make him proud. He threw all his passion into the business he had established on two years before his dad’s passing. He dedicated is to business to honouring and retaining legacy and memories of our love ones. Making the business a success was pre-requisite for Lebohang as that is how he would the “Lessons of a Father”. Today the Bataung memorial business supports and employs 80 -100 people at any given time. It is a growing business; it builds and supplies over 300 tombstones a week. The business is based in the in Katlehong; it currently has 8 branches across the country and a new branch in Lesotho. Bataung has been growing for the last 9 years and has built and installed over 10 000 Memorial stones, including those of the great Solomon “Stix” Morerwa, Ntate Tom Boya, Scara Ngobese, Happy Sindane and many more.
Lebohang puts the same passion he has for maintaining his father’s legacy into each and every product produced by his company. Vuyo Mbuli’s headstone epitomizes this, it is a stone that will keep Vuyo alive in the minds and hearts of all who encounter his stone. How Vuyo Mbuli’s memorial tombstone was made:
The granite Tombstone was made in 72 hours, weighs approximately 2 tons and the approximate cost R150 000 and it took 10 men to install it. A large number of hours were spent on the artistic side ensuring that the tombstone is almost life like.