JOHANNESBURG: A renowned South African photojournalist, Peter Magubane, known for photographing decades of violence during the country’s apartheid era died on Monday aged 91, his family announced.
Magubane became the official photographer of Nelson Mandela when the anti-apartheid leader was freed from prison in 1990.
His one of the most iconic photographs is from 1956, showing a young white girl sitting on a bench marked “Europeans Only”, while her black maid can be seen sitting behind her on the other side of the bench.
Magubane’s daughter Fikile told local media that her father was very passionate about his work and he used to stop everything when it comes to his work.
The family has not given cause of death was given, but according to the SACEF journalists’ association he passed away on Monday peacefully surrounded by his family members.
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Magubane was arrested in 1996 while covering protests in front of the prison where Winnie Mandela and other activists were being held.
He was jailed and had to spend 586 days in solitary confinement. He was also ordered to stop his photography activities for five years.
He was again arrested in 1971 and held for several months. During the Soweto uprising of 1976 he captured some of the most iconic images of the student revolt.
South African Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa in a post on social media said the country has lost a freedom fighter who fearlessly documented apartheid’s injustices.
