The SA National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) is mourning the deaths of SABC journalists in Limpopo and Free State, as well as former Eye Witness News (EWN) reporter in Western Cape.
Sanef said in a statement on Tuesday that just days apart, the journalism fraternity has lost SABC News Free State editor Teboho Letshaba, veteran SABC News Sepedi radio current affairs producer and presenter Matome Maupi in Limpopo, and Craig-Lee Smith, a former EWN reporter in Cape Town.
The 40-year-old Letshaba passed away in his sleep at his apartment in Bloemfontein on April 4 and was buried at the weekend.
SABC News’ head of input Angie Kapelianis described Letshaba as versatile, brilliant and dedicated to education and his work.
“The multi award-winning journalist joined the SABC Bloemfontein newsroom in 2008 and held various positions. He also authored at least five Sesotho books, of which one was turned into a theatre production,” said Kapelianis.
Kapelianis added that the public broadcaster was still expecting more from Letshaba.
“He was a quiet and thoughtful guy. To Teboho’s family, we feel for you. We are with you … To Teboho, sleep well, go well.”
Mandla Mbusi, provincial operations manager at SABC, said staff is trying to cope with the death of Letshaba.
“He would bring you current affairs stories, real stories affecting people’s lives. We have lost a giant in the media industry and as the broadcaster.”
Sanef is also mourning the death of 52-year-old Maupi who passed away on April 13 after losing a battle to lung cancer. He has been sick and on leave since January.
Maupi’s radio career started at Mohodi Community Radio before he joined the SABC as the host of popular current affairs show Hlokwa La Tsela on Thobela FM in the early 2000s.
He was loved for his robust interaction with politicians and officials when tackling service delivery issues affecting communities in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and Gauteng.
Describing Maupi, his former colleague Thipa Selala said he was a great mentor and teacher, as well as a walking Sepedi encyclopaedia.
“When I joined the SABC in 2007, he was tasked with training me. He was a diligent man, his cheerful personality will be missed,” said Selala.
“He was energetic and worked like a man possessed with extraordinary vision. He had exceptional courage and an unmatched passion for radio. May God rest his soul.”
SABC regional manager Oupa Mamabolo said: “We are bereft of words of comfort as Matome Maupi was one of a kind, an intersection of assertiveness and humility packed in a human being.”
Sanef is also saddened after learning that Smith passed away on Sunday evening.
Former colleague Crystal Orderson described Smith as passionate and energetic since their student days at Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
“He wanted to make a difference in telling stories about communities. He went to speak to women in the Cape Flats who lost children due to violence,” said Orderson.
“Graig-Lee hated sitting in the office and loved going to communities and telling their stories.”
Smith went on to join the e.tv Openview team as producer and was later appointed as programme manager at RSG, the main and oldest Afrikaans radio station, where he ensured the station reflected the full diversity of Afrikaans speakers from Kuruman to Mitchells Plain and Johannesburg.
Sanef said the broadcasters’ deaths are a great loss to the media fraternity, noting that they will be solely missed.
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