JOHANNESBURG - Veteran communicator and respected corporate affairs specialist Khulu Phasiwe has died, his family has confirmed.
Phasiwe died on Sunday, leaving behind a career spanning journalism, public-sector communications and some of South Africa’s most prominent institutions.
He became a familiar face to South Africans during the country’s electricity crisis, when he served as an Eskom spokesperson.
As the power utility grappled with rolling blackouts and growing concerns over the stability of the national grid, Phasiwe became one of its most recognisable public representatives.
His career, however, extended well beyond Eskom.
Phasiwe previously worked as a communicator for the Office of the Public Protector and held communications roles at a leading commercial bank and the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory.
At the time of his death, he was serving as Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications at Air Traffic and Navigation Services.
His professional career began in journalism, where he worked as a financial journalist before moving into strategic communications.
Phasiwe was widely respected in the communications industry, where he built a reputation for his professionalism and ability to navigate complex issues.