SANEF Mourns The Death of Community Media Activist and Editor Masindi Mkhize

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) and the community media at large are deeply saddened to learn of the death of community media activist and editor, Ms Masindi Octavia Mkhize (43).

According to her family, Mkhize suffered a stroke and died on her way to the hospital on Friday, 22 May 2020.

Dunisani Ntsanwisi, SANEF’s Community Committee Convenor, said Masindi would be remembered for her passion and dedication towards the growth and sustainability of community print media platforms.

“She was one of the last few remaining voices for the community print media who pushed for the development of the sector in South Africa’s indigenous languages,” he said. He added that Mkhize had dedicated her life to the sector since 1995.

Mkhize was the publisher and editor of the Pinetown based newspaper, EzaKwazulu News. She was part of the team that forged a long-standing working relationship between the community media and the Office of the KwaZulu-Natal Premier, which saw KwaZulu-Natal Community Print Media Publishers receiving more than R1 million in advertising revenue between 2009 and 2018. She was also part of the team of KwaZulu-Natal Publishers who signed an advertisement contract with Ethekwini Municipality in 2017, which has been running for over three years. Mkhize was recently appointed the Deputy-President of the Association of Independent Publishers (AIP). She is survived by her three daughters.

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 the 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 through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.

For more information please contact:

• Mahlatse Mahlase – SANEF Chairperson, (083) 399-2852
• Katy Katopodis – SANEF Deputy Chairperson, (082) 805-7022
• Moipone Malefane – SANEF Secretary-General (082) 772-5861
• Dunisani Ntsanwisi – SANEF Community Committee Convenor (073) 981- 8649
• Mary Papayya – SANEF Media Freedom Chair (082) 379-4957
• Sbu Ngalwa – SANEF Eastern Cape Convenor (073) 404-1415
• Janet Heard – SANEF Western Cape Convenor (078) 041-9528
• Hopewell Radebe – SANEF Gauteng Convenor (083) 582-1734
• Judy Sandison – SANEF KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334
• Kate Skinner – SANEF Executive Director – (082) 926-6404

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Website: SANEF