- Three journalists have died this week due to Covid-19 complications.
- Their deaths come shortly after the government agreed to prioritise members of the media for vaccinations.
- The media is in mourning after the loss of the three journalists.
The media is in mourning after the death of three journalists - SABC's Moabi Litheko; eNCA's former output editor, Celeste Phillips; and Primedia technical manager, Dan Maswanganye - as a result of Covid-19 complications.
Maswanganye, popularly referred to as Bra Dan, died in hospital on Tuesday night due to Covid-19 complications. He worked at Primedia Broadcasting for 37 years and is survived by his wife and children.
On Wednesday, the SABC announced the death of bulletin writer for the Sesotho Television News Bulletin, Moabi Litheko. He had been admitted to Flora Clinic for treatment for Covid-19 complications.
Celeste Phillips, formerly an output editor at eNCA, also died of Covid-19 complications on Wednesday and is survived by her husband and two young children.
"Their [deaths are] truly unfortunate as it happened in the same week that the National Covid Command Centre agreed to get media houses registered so that journalists could be vaccinated within the next few days," the SA National Editors' Forum (Sanef) said.
Essential workers
This month, the vaccination rollout to essential workers, besides those in the education sector, kicks off. The police service and defence force are scheduled to receive vaccines next.
The government informed Sanef on Monday that journalists would be next in line to receive their vaccines, including community and freelance journalists.
"Journalists, as designated frontline workers, have risked their lives every day for the past 16 months, working throughout the pandemic as part of their responsibility to the public," Sanef previously told News24.
"They have traversed the country, going to hospitals, clinics, vaccination sites, mass rallies, press conferences etc., to reflect on the pandemic, in service to the country to ensure that the public is adequately informed."
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