Joe Latakgomo, who served as a Public Advocate for the Press Council of South Africa, from 2018 to 2020, is late.
The Council extended its heartfelt condolences to his wife, Angie Latakgomo, and the entire family, and to his friends and former colleagues.
Latakgomo was active in the Council for more than 50 years, as editor of the Sowetan in 1981, The World and Weekend World, which were banned by the apartheid regime, and was Assistant Editor at the Post and Sunday Post.
After his editorship at Sowetan, he was Assistant Editor of The Star and Assistant Editor of the Argus Africa News Service. He went on to be the Public Editor of Avusa (Times Media).
He worked alongside Nhlanhla Mbatha, Percy Qoboza and Joe Thloloe.
Phathiswa Magopeni, Executive Director of the Press Council expressed sadness, at Bra Joe’s passing, ‘we mourn the passing of Joe Latakgomo, whose voice as Public Advocate of the Press Council of South Africa carried both courage and conscience. He understood that robust, independent media accountability is the lifeblood of democracy.”