JOHANNESBURG – Young journalists were urged to embody the courage of the late Sam Nzima at a memorial service held by colleagues and friends in Parktown on Thursday. 

WATCH #SamNzimaMemorial A salute by photojournalists using their camera shutters. pic.twitter.com/g4cn4DKAEz

— silindelo masikane (@Slindelo_M) May 17, 2018

The veteran photographer died at the age of 83 in Nelspruit on Saturday.

Nzima captured the iconic photograph of a dying Hector Pieterson during the 1976 uprisings.

While the rest of his family was not able to attend the memorial, his son was there and paid tribute to his father. 

#SamNzimaMemorial Thulani also speaks about the fight his father had to endure to get copyrights to the picture of Pieterson. “He didn’t die a rich man but he wasn’t a pauper. Most journalists are driven by passion” pic.twitter.com/AO6haaMSLr

— silindelo masikane (@Slindelo_M) May 17, 2018

Veteran journalists, like Pearl Luthuli and Joe Latakgomo, as well as friends like Unisa professor Somadoda Fikeni paid tribute to him. 

#SamNzimaMemorial friend Somadoda Fikeni says he met Nzima in 2005. “The first quarter of 2018 has not been great. It’s harvesting one icon after another” pic.twitter.com/aSm6t9cWdg

— silindelo masikane (@Slindelo_M) May 17, 2018

President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a Special Provincial Official Funeral for the respected lensman.

The South African flag will be flown at half-mast at every flag station in Mpumalanga on 26 May, the day of the funeral.

WATCH #SamNzimaMemorial @lebane says it’s an honour to paint Nzima pic.twitter.com/iFN3U755kg

— silindelo masikane (@Slindelo_M) May 17, 2018

eNCA