SANEF sends condolences on the passing of lensman Spokes Mashiyane
17 February 2026
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) passes its condolences to the Mashiyane family following the death of renowned lensman, Theophelous Oupa “Bra Sju” “Spokes” Mashiyane. He was buried last Saturday in Soweto.
His childhood friend and retired journalist and communicator, Sandile Memela, said he not only grew up with Spokes, as he was affectionately called, but was also a university mate who later became a media colleague.
Memela said: “We buried the bones, flesh, and blood. But his spirit lives in our memories, hearts, and souls. Friends and family spoke about his life, his achievements, and his intentions.
However, I am not too sure if the majority understands Spokes’ role and responsibilities as an international news cameraman. For that is what Spokes was. Yes, he started under Bantu Education from primary school through university. We were the generation that believed in making the best of the bad. We knew it was poisonous. We would beat the apartheid system in its game; we vowed as youngsters.
Memela continued: “Spokes told a story through images, conveying the essence of a moment. The apartheid regime was cornered and could not deny the horrendous events.
As writers, with veterans like Jon Qwelane, Themba Molefe, Mono Badela, and Mudhini Maivha in the front lines, we attempted to provide context and objectivity in chaotic situations.
“Black journalists had chosen to take sides. They felt they could not be objective.
They were more guerrillas than journalists. They chose to be on the side of elusive justice, equality, and democracy. So, we went as a pack to the war zones. We collaborated with international news reporters and producers such as Spokes, Rapitse Montsho, and Milton Nkosi, among others, to craft a narrative. It must be made clear that during this period, cameramen like Spokes and Rapitse – together with the Bang Bang Club – risked their lives to document the struggle against apartheid.
Nkosi, former BBC correspondent, said: “This past week we laid to rest a true messenger of the people, the late great Theophelous Oupa “Bra Sju” “Spokes” Mashiyane. I first met him in the late 1980s and early 90s, when he was a cameraman for international news agencies such as WTN (Worldwide Television News) and later Reuters.
“He was committed to telling the story of the people of South Africa as they resisted white minority rule. Spokes spoke his mind. I will remember him for being an incredibly courageous journalist. I also soldiered alongside him when I worked for the BBC, with him in Angola during the MPLA war against Jonas Savimbi’s Unita rebel army.
One of his Reuters colleagues, John Dinky Mkhize, put it more eloquently when he paid his tribute, as we gathered at Diepkloof Hall in Soweto, he said, “Spokes loved his job and had a great sense of humour.” I will never forget how much he loved covering stories in the great KwaZulu-Natal coastal city of Durban. As a result, a former colleague, Jeff Koinange, nicknamed him ” The Durban Bureau Chief”! May his soul rest in peace.
Abbey Makoe, veteran journalist, said: “Oh, Spokes, may his soul rest in peace. He loved his country. He treasured his people. He lived for his work. Such dedication is rare. He was truly affable. Unassuming, always bearing a shy smile. We spent endless time together in the media trenches at the height of resistance to apartheid. Spokes recorded the ferocity of apartheid as it refused to die. With his camera, he showed the world evidence of the last kicks of a dying horse that was apartheid. He survived too many impediments and never got discouraged by the constant dangers that accompanied him, especially in black journalism. I hope that when history is written about the role of black journalism in toppling apartheid, Spokes’ participation will be reflected in full. We last shook hands when we met at the funeral of Bra Peter Magubane. What a man. What a colleague. As Sandile Memela so passionately puts it in his farewell message: May the spirit of Spokes multiply.”
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.
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