The man who became Eskom’s voice during load shedding has died
JOHANNESBURG — The veteran communicator who became one of South Africa’s most recognisable corporate spokespeople while explaining Eskom’s electricity crisis and load shedding to the country, has died at the age of 52. Phasiwe’s family confirmed that he died on Monday following a seizure. He had experienced seizures for several years.
At the time of his death, Phasiwe was head of corporate affairs and communications at Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS), continuing a career of more than two decades spanning financial journalism and senior communications roles at some of South Africa’s most prominent public institutions.
For many South Africans, however, Phasiwe will be remembered for the years he spent at Eskom.
He joined the power utility in 2008 and became its national spokesperson in 2015, placing him at the centre of public communication during an exceptionally difficult period for Eskom as load shedding, financial problems and allegations linked to state capture dominated national attention. He resigned in 2019 after about a decade at the utility.
Speaking after his departure, Phasiwe described the relentless pressure of communicating for Eskom during successive crises, saying the utility’s problems seemed to be replaced by new ones almost every day or week.
His career did not end with Eskom. Phasiwe later headed communications and stakeholder relations at the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory and in 2024 was appointed spokesperson for the Office of the Public Protector, bringing more than 20 years of experience in financial journalism and corporate communications to the institution.
He subsequently joined ATNS, where he was serving as head of corporate affairs and communications at the time of his death. He remained professionally active until shortly before his passing, including communicating publicly on aviation and transport matters.
Before moving into corporate communications, Phasiwe worked as a financial journalist for Business Day and Business Report. His career also included a period as media manager at FNB Commercial.
Tributes have followed confirmation of his death. The African Media & Communication Forum said it was honouring Phasiwe’s life, legacy and contribution to Africa’s media and communications sector.
His death removes a familiar figure from South Africa’s communications profession, particularly for a generation that came to recognise him as the person tasked with facing the public and media during some of Eskom’s most difficult years.
Phasiwe’s funeral is expected to take place at Grace Bible Church in Pimville, Soweto, on Saturday.
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