Former Eskom Spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe Passes Away at 52 After Seizure
Renowned South African corporate communications specialist and former Eskom national spokesperson, Khulu Phasiwe, has passed away at the age of 52.
According to family confirmations, Phasiwe passed away following a medical emergency.
Family members revealed that the veteran communications expert had privately battled health complications related to seizures for several years before succumbing.
Phasiwe was a highly respected figure in the South African media and communications landscape, with a career spanning more than two decades.
He began his professional journey as a financial journalist, reporting for prominent publications like Business Day and Business Report before transitioning into corporate public relations.
He became a household name across South Africa during his ten-year tenure at the state power utility, Eskom, where he served as the national spokesperson from 2015 until his resignation in 2019.
During this challenging period, Phasiwe was the public face of the utility, handling communications during intense periods of national load shedding, administrative crises, and intense public scrutiny.
He later described the relentless nature of the role as “tantamount to being in a war zone” owing to the non-stop crises.
Following his time at Eskom, Phasiwe lent his expertise to several high-profile public entities.
He managed communications for the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory, served a brief stint as the spokesperson for the Office of the Public Protector, and most recently headed corporate affairs and communications for Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS).
Tributes have begun pouring in from colleagues, journalists, and media organisations.
The African Media & Communication Forum (AMCF) extended its heartfelt condolences to his family, honouring Phasiwe’s invaluable and professional contributions to the media sector across Africa.
Funeral and memorial service arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in due course.
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