SANEF mourns Ufrieda Ho’s passing

11 March 2026

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is saddened by the passing of veteran award-winning journalist and author, Ufrieda Ho.

Ho has written for publications such as The Star, Mail & Guardian, City Press, and Daily Maverick. Over the years, she has also worked as a sub-editor at various publications, where her sharp eye was not only notable but also helped young reporters.

Ho was in love with Johannesburg. Over the years, she established herself as one of the key voices on the city’s vibrancy, what it has to offer, and the positives and negatives of living in a city rich in history and complex contradictions.

She is the author of Paper Sons and Daughters: A Memoir: Growing Up Chinese in South Africa, published in 2012.

Mapi Mhlangu, editor-in-chief at Newzroom Afrika, said: “In her memoir Becoming, Michelle Obama writes about the quiet, lingering weight of grief: ‘It hurts to live after someone has died. It just does… Music hurts, and so do memories… Grief is so lonely this way.”

“When I heard about the passing of Ufrieda Ho, I experienced a kind of grief mixed with regret — the kind that comes when you realise time quietly slipped by. I met Ufrieda through a Bloomberg fellowship. We developed a quiet friendship, not defined by constant contact or daily conversations, but by meaningful moments — occasional chats about health, food, and even my adoption process. Those conversations were simple, warm, and sincere.

“Somewhere along the way, life became busy. I must have been so absorbed in everything else that I stopped those quarterly check-ins. So, when I saw the message in a WhatsApp group announcing her passing, I was devastated. I went back to our previous WhatsApp exchanges and found some of the most beautiful photographs she had taken — snapshots of joy, curiosity, and a way of seeing the world that felt deeply alive. Those moments reminded me of the quiet kindness that defined her. Rest in peace, Ulfrieda.

May your passing be a reminder to all of us about the importance of checking in on one another – not someday, not when life slows down, but now,” Mhlangu concluded.

Wits University’s Professor Glenda Daniels (also SANEF’s SG) said: “Ufrieda and I were Health Trends reporters at The Star from 1995. She was generous and funny. We shared so much. We used to eat chips with vinegar and tomato sauce with relish when we were broke.

“We maintained a friendship for over three decades. We had many “adventures” together. Sometimes she would call an adventure a simple thing like “let’s go to China Town” (in Bruma) and “There you’re going to have your first Bubble tea ever, and never forget the experience.”  And she would kill herself laughing that I was struggling to drink it. Another adventure was to walk on the streets and then tell people to pick up their litter. And we would shout, and she in broken Mandarin, or Cantonese, and me in broken isiZulu or Sesotho, and people would get terrified, pick up their litter and throw it in the bins. Beforehand, we ensured that our car was close by for a quick getaway, just in case of trouble.

The last time we saw each other was for an interview in my study at home:  she was doing an article on the losses in journalism, the industry, and the state of freelancing. She sat on my rocking chair and didn’t stop talking; she spoke more than I did, even though I was the one being interviewed. I didn’t get a chance to ask how you are. She just talked and interjected herself (on the decimation that big tech companies were causing journalism) by saying: “Just look after yourself, look after your health,” even though everything was alright with me. We said we would go out for coffee in January or February to catch up. She said she wanted to talk more about the state of freelancing and what journalists were getting paid, or not getting paid, and what we could do about this, through SANEF.  We intended to do the Joburg night walk she was passionate about, too. It didn’t happen.”

Ingrid Martens, a friend and fellow with Ufrieda, said: “The news of Ufrieda’s passing is deeply heartbreaking. I had the privilege of getting to know her during the Bloomberg ALI Media Fellowship Programme, where her gentle spirit and thoughtful insight left a lasting impression. She was a gifted storyteller, fascinated by the human condition and committed to telling stories with insight, purpose, and care. Her voice and presence will be greatly missed. My heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues.”

Public Relations professional, Bridget van Oerle, and owner of The BUZ Hive, spoke of Ufrieda as a real native of Joburg. “She was a true Joburger and a journalist who managed to capture the texture and humanity of the stories she wrote about. She had a rare insight and compassion. She didn’t just write about Joburg; she lived it. She walked the streets.

“Through her fearless investigative reporting or the Kensington night walks she helped organise to bring neighbours onto the streets together to ‘howl at the moon,’ she believed deeply in the power of community. Her voice and deep love for Joburg and the stories will be greatly missed.”

Thys Dullart, Ufrieda’s former colleague at The Star, said: “She was likely one of the kindest people you would ever meet, soft and gentle and caring with a sharp sense of humour. A friend who always had your back. She is forever in my memory.”

 ENDS 

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, conducting research, and providing 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

Slindile Khanyile – Media Freedom Chair (083) 471-0367

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

Dianne Hawker – Gauteng Convenor (072) 016-5984

Judy Sandison – KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334

Jude Mathurine – Eastern Cape Convenor (083) 799-1701

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

Reggy Moalusi – Executive Director (071) 682-3695

Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.SANEF.org.za