Obituaries

SA National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) press statement on the death of Anton Hammerl

A SANEF delegation met with the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane in Pretoria this morning (Friday, 20 May) to discuss the death of Anton Hammerl.

The Minister was accompanied by the Austrian Ambassador to South Africa Otto Ditz and senior department officials.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane and Ambassador Ditz briefed the SANEF delegation on efforts made to establish the whereabouts of Hammerl and to secure his release.

The efforts included constant contact with the highest levels of the Libyan Government and the redeployment of South Africa’s Ambassador to Libya, Mohammed Dangor who had been evacuated from the war-torn country a few months ago. Dangor’s sole mission in Libya was to find Hammerl.

The minister and ambassador explained they had been assured all along by the Libyan authorities that Hammerl was alive and only discovered otherwise when briefed by the journalists who were freed yesterday.

The SANEF delegation urged the SA government to do all in its power to find Hammerl’s body, to ensure he can have a decent burial and that everything be done to support his family.

South Africa’s journalistic community joins Anton’s family and friends in mourning his death.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife Penny Sukhraj and their children, and his family and friends.

SANEF Chairperson Mondli Makhanya said Anton was “a superb photographer and a brave journalist who always went out a thousand extra miles to bring home news and images to the world.”

Issued by the SA National Editors’ Forum (SANEF)

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We are extremely devastated about the tragic news of the death of Anton Hammerl.

He was a superb photographer and a brave journalist who always went out a thousand extra miles to bring home news and images to the world.

South Africa’s journalistic community joins Anton’s family and friends in mourning his death.

Issued by SA National Editors’ Forum (SANEF)

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Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF

The SA National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is saddened by the passing away of senior SABC Journalist Kgomotso Sebetso (44).

According to the SABC the accident happened in Garankuwa, north of Pretoria. The accident happened after Sebetso had gone to visit his mother for Mother’s Day yesterday. Garankuwa police, north of Pretoria, said Sebetso’s car crashed into a truck last night. He was taken to hospital in a serious condition and died early this morning.

Sebetso was regarded as one of South Africa’s finest journalists. He worked for the SABC from 1987 as a Bulletin Writer and in November 2001 left the SABC to work for government. On his return to the SABC in 2008 he was then appointed as Senior Political Reporter.

Sebetso was one of South Africa’s most experienced political journalists, having reported from all corners of the globe.

His vast knowledge of the political landscape and his contribution to our understanding of society will be sorely missed.

The SA National Editors’ Forum extends its condolences to Sebetso’s family, friends and colleagues.

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Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF