By More Matshediso
Pretoria - Communications Minister Faith Muthambi has conveyed her condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of photo journalist Elijar Mushiana.
Mushiana, who died at the age of 41, on Sunday, after a short illness, was Sowetan’s Limpopo bureau veteran photo journalist.
Minister Muthambi said: “It is with sadness that I learnt of the death of a stalwart in the field of journalism. Mushiana was a man of substance, who earned everyone’s respect through his consummate photo journalism, not only in Limpopo but also across South Africa.”
The minister said the journalism industry and South Africa as a whole has lost a remarkable man.
“We send our heartfelt and deepest sympathy to the family, friends and his colleagues,” she said.
Minister Muthambi said Mushiana was a guiding light to many young people who wanted to pursue a career in journalism.
She said Mushiana demonstrated through his work that there was room for the industry to play a role of being a facilitator of development in the country.
“He was a unique photo journalist, who was able to express what a thousand words cannot. Mushiana was reliable and competent, but it was his hard work that made him a supreme photo journalist, who devoted his entire life to the media industry,” Minister Muthambi said.
“Sadly he is no longer with us but like others in our pioneer generation, his contributions will never be forgotten,” she added.
Before joining Sowetan, Mushiana worked as a correspondent of the Limpopo Mirror in the Vhembe District, Limpopo.
In 2012, he won the prestigious Sowetan Photographer of the Year Award, two years after he was elected as the fourth chairperson of the Vhembe Journalist Forum.
Mushiana described winning the Photographer of the Year Award as a culmination of his efforts over the past 20 years in the industry. – SAnews.gov.za
