SANEF Mourns the Passing of Veteran Journalism Mentor Barbara Khuluse

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) expresses profound sadness at the passing of veteran journalism mentor, Barbara Khuluse, whose 30 years as an extraordinary Personal Assistant (PA) at the City Press newspaper left an indelible mark on generations of South African journalists. Though never formally schooled as a journalist, Khuluse was the newsroom’s quiet powerhouse, a de facto news editor whose tough love and exacting standards shaped countless young careers.

While she served as PA to various editors who led the City Press, her true contribution lay in the meticulous and often demanding mentorship she offered rookie journalists. Her former colleagues fondly recall her dedication to quality and accuracy.

“You didn’t go anywhere near the editor unless you had first pitched your story to her,” recalled former colleague Shalo Mbatha. “If she didn’t like your story, ah, you were finished.”

Mbatha, who referred to her as “Sistah B and Mamncane Nunu,” remembered her as “indoni yamanzi” with a breathtaking beauty who sat at the news desk, “but honestly, you’d swear she was the actual news editor.” She humorously recounted the efforts journalists made to bypass her, only to hear her shout across the newsroom, “Hey! I can see you. That k*k story will never see the light of day!”

Mbatha lauded her as “the last of a dying breed,” who nurtured young journalists with tough love that ensured their stories met the expected editorial quality, standards, and accuracy levels.

For many, Khuluse was more than a colleague; she was a sister, mother, and essential support system.

Maseipati Tsotsotso remembered her first meeting with “Ausie Barbara” in the mid-1990s as a young journalist. “I was welcomed by this beautiful, dark-skinned lady who spoke perfect Sesotho laced with isiZulu. Her welcoming smile as she ushered me to the editor’s office and told me to relax was so disarming.”

Tsotsotso said Khuluse’s workstation “would later become a hangout for anyone and everyone. She became the glue that held the office together.”

She provided critical support as they “navigated the complexities of the male-dominated newsroom and media industry, and our own youth with its challenges.” Tsotsotso said Khuluse’s work station became “a place to dump our loads” whenever we felt overwhelmed, knowing she would soothe the pain.”

Mbatha confirmed her extraordinary kindness, recalling how “beneath that fierce newsroom ‘General’ was the warmest teddy bear woman who kept a “special drawer filled with cash for the forever-broke journalists” which was a silent, crucial lifeline.

Former City Press journalist, Vukile Pokwana, spoke of the ache in the heart of the City Press family that words can scarcely contain. He remembered Barbara as a “special soul, gentle yet firm, wise yet humble, whose presence warmed every corridor.”

“Barbara had that rare, approving smile that could light up even the most demanding newsroom day,” Pokwana said. “She was, in every sense, a special kind, a mother, sister, grandmother, and colleague who wove care and compassion into the very fabric of our working lives.”

SANEF extends its deepest condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues during this sad time.

Note to Editors:

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists, and journalism trainers from all areas of South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics, and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism by fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research, and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.

For more information, please contact:

Makhudu Sefara – Chairperson (079) 177-2134

Tshamano Makhadi – Deputy Chairperson (082) 223-0621

Glenda Daniels – Secretary-General (083) 229-9708

Sbu Ngalwa – Treasurer General (073) 404-1415

Katy Katopodis – SANEF Wellness and Safety Chair (082) 805-7022

Judy Sandison – SANEF KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334

Rochelle De Kock – SANEF Eastern Cape Convenor (072) 969-8028

Sisanda Nkoala – SANEF Western Cape Convenor (073)138-5564

Reggy Moalusi – SANEF Executive Director (071) 682-3695

Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.sanef.org.za