The National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture invites the media to a celebration of the life and times of Dr Peter Magubane, an international icon best known for his journalistic and photographic work under the repressive apartheid government.

The occasion takes place on Friday, 10 March 2023 at the Freedom Park Heritage Site & Museum, in Pretoria as part of the Van Toeka Af Living Legends Recognition Series (VTALLRS).

Magubane’s coverage of the 1976 June 16 student uprisings earned him worldwide acclaim and led to a multitude of international photographic and journalistic awards. Magubane became Nelson Mandela’s official photographer following Mandela’s release in 1990. He has published 17 books, two of which were banned by the apartheid government.

Since the establishment of the new democracy, he stopped covering news and has concentrated on exhibitions and publishing work from his extensive archive done over a long and distinguished career as South Africa’s foremost photojournalist.

Previous recipients of this VTALLRS Ministerial honour include Professor Pitika Ntuli, Dr James Matthews and most recently, the late Dr Latozi ‘Madosini’ Mphahleni.

The VTALLRS is an initiative of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and serves to honour such living legends who have played a pivotal role in society and have made a significant contribution towards the arts and culture sector.

Source: Government of South Africa