Journalist, analyst and broadcaster Karima Brown died from COVID-19 related complications yesterday. Brown was admitted to hospital in February and was receiving treatment for the virus.
She held many senior positions in the South African media industry, including executive editor for the Independent Group and political editor at Business Day.
Brown hosted a number of shows, most recently The Fix on eNCA. She was a former 702 talk show host and hosted a show on CNBC Africa. Brown was also a political commentator.
Her family, in a statement released on Thursday morning, described her as prolific. “[She was] also and more importantly a well-loved friend, mentor, mother, colleague, daughter, and confidante to countless people throughout a life lived fully, and with deep commitment to her most cherished values and principles.”
Retired Constitutional Court justice Edwin Cameron said her death was a great loss for the country.
“Karima’s passing is a loss to political thought, to political commentary in terms of political leadership in our country. She worked as an avid, often-provocative commentator and our deep condolences to her family and all those who loved her and knew her.”
Brown was also controversial in her support for the ANC, former president Jacob Zuma and her employment with Iqbal Survé’s Independent Group. Ed Herbst wrote an article for Daily Friend recently dealing with this side of Brown’s professional life.
(Picture: Radio702)