The South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) mourns the death of 74-year-old, Durban-based veteran journalist and researcher, Juggie Naran who was former News Editor of the Sunday Tribune. He died on 29 October 2019 In Pietermaritzburg.
Although Naran retired in April 2017 at the age of 72, he continued to write as a columnist and worked as a media consultant. His sudden death has shocked his colleagues in the industry.
Juggie was an advertising sales representative for the Graphic and Post newspapers before he joined the Leader newspaper as a reporter. He then moved to the Sunday Tribune Herald where he did a sterling job, aided by his bulging notebook of trusted contacts.
Before his death, he told colleagues, he had his heart set on publishing a book about politics and the Black Conscious Movement (BCM) which included activists such as Steve Biko, Barney Pityana, Prof. Saths Cooper and Strini Moodley.
Yogin Devan, a former colleague of Juggie Naran’s, described Juggie as a great mentor saying he taught him his first job – selling advertising for the Graphic newspaper.
“He is a fearless journalist who defied banning orders and security police. He worked among the anti-apartheid activists such as Sam Moodley and others of his time.”
Devan said, “A son of the Grey Street complex, he was well-known by young and old alike in the then bustling Indian hub of Durban city”.
Although Juggie was diminutive in physical stature, he had a big heart and the most significant legacy he will leave behind is his mentoring spirit. “He was always willing to show cub reporters in the newsroom the ropes of news gathering and writing”, added Devan.
When he retired from the Sunday Tribune, he lectured to budding journalists at the Durban University of Technology.
- Article updated as per input from MWASA and BCM founders
For more information please contact:
Kate Skinner – SANEF Executive Director 082 926 6404
Judy Sandison – SANEF Media Freedom Committee 082 571-3334