Central SA
Seasoned Bloemfontein journalist passes on─── LUCKY NKUYANE 12:42 Mon, 17 Oct 2022
One of Central South Africa's seasoned journalists has passed on. The Free State Publishers and Editors Forum chairperson, Lebona Lekoenea, broke the news on Monday 17 October 2022 about the passing of Michael Tlhakudi, who was in his early 40s.
Tlhakudi worked for different media publications, including the former Africa News Agency Network (ANN7), and also did freelance reporting for OFM News, among others.
Lekoenea says Tlhakudi, who was affectionately known as Mike, was a talented Journalist, media practitioner and communicator par excellence who played a positive role in ensuring that the media, journalism, in particular, is receiving attention from the government, communities and all news-making stakeholders within the province and the country.
In December 2021, OFM News reported that another seasoned Bloemfontein journalist, Thapelo Molebatsi, also passed on after a sudden illness.
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“His [Tlhakudi's] passing is a great loss to the media fraternity in the Free State. We wish the family strength in this difficult time. As a journalist, Mike travelled across the length and breadth of South Africa, covering good and bad stories that affect the citizens of this country. FSPEF mourns Tlhakudi’s passing with an understanding that the Free State and South African Media fraternity has not only lost a humble man but lost an agent of progress, especially someone who always sought cooperation among stakeholders. We convey our deepest condolences to Tlhakudi’s family, FSPEF members and the entire Journalism fraternity. Indeed, death has robbed us of a noble and honest man who will sorely be missed,” Lekoenea adds.
Meanwhile, another seasoned Bloemfontein Journalist, Martin Makoni, who is among those who had working relations with the deceased, says he found Tlhakudi quite passionate with his work whenever they discussed stories with interesting points, which made it a pleasure to interact with.
“His passing is a great loss to the media fraternity in the Free State. We wish the family strength in this difficult time,” Makoni adds.
In January 2022, the feature writer at City Press, Poloko Tau, also passed on while at his home in Mmabatho in Mahikeng.
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Details of Tlhakudi's funeral and memorial service are expected to be shared in due course.
