Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has paid tribute to renowned and respected veteran journalist, Khaba Mkhize, for his bravery and dedication.
Mkhize was a former editor of Echo newspaper and former assistant editor of the Natal Witness newspaper in Pietermaritzburg. He also served as regional manager of the SABC in KwaZulu-Natal.
He passed away on Sunday at his home in Pietermaritzburg after a long illness. He was 70-years-old.
In his tribute message on Tuesday, President Zuma said Mkhize played a pivotal role in the coverage of the violence and promotion of peace in Pietermaritzburg and the Midlands during the state of emergency and repression against the media.
“We respect him for his promotion of freedom of information and expression, and for his use of the media as an instrument of promoting freedom, human rights and democracy,” said President Zuma.
Mkhize was also President of the Association of Democratic Journalists, which actively supported peace processes in KwaZulu-Natal.
He later went on to launch Echo newspaper which groomed, trained and produced journalists as well as young poets.
Mkhize will be buried on Friday at Mountain Rise Cemetery following a service at the Edendale Lay Centre, which will start at 10am. – SAnews.gov.za
