KEY POINTS
- Khulu Phasiwe died at 52 after a seizure.
- He was Eskom’s national spokesperson from 2015 to 2019.
- He later worked with the Public Protector and Air Traffic and Navigation Services.
Former Eskom national spokesperson and communications specialist Khulu Phasiwe has died at the age of 52, bringing an end to a career that placed him at the centre of some of South Africa’s most challenging electricity and public communication crises.
Phasiwe died on Monday after suffering a seizure, according to his family. He had reportedly been experiencing seizures for several years.
News of his death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from former colleagues, journalists and professionals across South Africa’s media and communications sectors, many of whom remembered him for his professionalism and ability to communicate during difficult periods.
The African Media & Communication Forum described his contribution to the African media and communications industry as invaluable.
A career that moved from journalism to communications
Phasiwe built a career spanning more than two decades, initially working as a journalist before moving into corporate communications.
He worked as a journalist at Business Day and Business Report, where he covered issues before eventually transitioning into the communications side of the corporate world.
In 2008, he joined Eskom and became part of the utility’s media and communications department. He later rose to become deputy spokesperson before being appointed Eskom’s national spokesperson in 2015.
Phasiwe’s years as Eskom’s national spokesperson coincided with one of the most turbulent periods in South Africa’s electricity sector.
The country was grappling with repeated load-shedding as Eskom struggled with ageing power stations, maintenance challenges, financial pressures and concerns over the reliability of electricity generation and supply.
As the utility’s public face, Phasiwe was frequently called upon to explain power cuts, respond to questions from journalists and communicate Eskom’s position on the worsening electricity crisis.
His role meant that his voice became familiar to millions of South Africans who depended on Eskom for electricity and closely followed developments around the utility.
Phasiwe’s tenure also coincided with intense scrutiny of Eskom’s leadership, finances and governance.
The utility faced growing questions over allegations linked to state capture, changes in senior management and concerns about its financial sustainability. These developments placed additional pressure on Eskom’s communications team.
Phasiwe was therefore required to communicate with the public and the media at a time when the utility was under extraordinary political, financial and operational pressure.
