JOHANNESBURG - The following is a statement from Santu Mofokeng's family regarding the death of Africa’s world acclaimed photographer, thinker and mentor in the photography practice. He was born on the 19th of October 1956 in Soweto.
It is with deep felt sorrow and bereavement that the family shares the news that Santu Mofokeng, passed away peacefully on Sunday 26 January 2020 in the presence of his loving family. He is at rest now. His last days were filled with love and support from his family, including loving messages from friends and practitioners from all over the world.
Mofokeng was our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.
Starting his career as a street photographer, Santu 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 glowing 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 in South Africa. 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 family will have a private funeral.
*Details of the public memorial will be shared once confirmed
