Sorrow after passing of legendary photographer

Lusanda Zokufa

The family of late legendary photographer Santu Mofokeng has released a statement concerning the death of Africa’s world acclaimed photographer, thinker and mentor.

  The statement said it is with deep sorrow that the family shares the news that Mofokeng passed away peacefully on 26 January in the presence of his loving family.

  “His last days were filled with love and support from his family, including loving messages from friends and practitioners from all over the world,” the family said.

  Starting his career as a street photographer, Mofokeng went on to work as an assistant and then became a news photographer.

  Subsequently, he joined the Afrapix collective and went on to carve an international career that has won him accolades which include the Ernest Cole Award (1991), The 1st Mother Jones award for Africa (1991) and the Prince Claus Award (2009).

  At the age of 60, the legendary documentary photographer was honoured with an honorary doctorate from Wits University on 4 July 2016.

  Mofokeng documented life, landscape and memory in South Africa. His visual stories include research journals, essays and published photography books, which continue to make a critical contribution to the learning and teaching of photography.

  “His legacy is being incorporated in photography research and development programmes. The demand and interest in his photography archive is growing globally. He therefore has left all of us with a valued modern heritage in the arts and culture sector,” the statement said.