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Khulu Phasiwe Biography: Eskom’s Voice During Load Shedding and a Career in Public Communications
Khulu Phasiwe died in early October 2026 at age 52, after suffering a seizure, his family confirmed.
He was, at the time, Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications at Air Traffic and Navigation Services, the latest post in a career that made him one of the most recognisable spokespeople in South African public life, most of all as the face of Eskom during the country’s years of rolling blackouts.
Khulu Phasiwe was a South African corporate communications specialist and former financial journalist. He is best known as Eskom’s national spokesperson from 2015 to 2019, during the height of the utility’s load-shedding crisis, and for his later role as spokesperson for the Public Protector South Africa.
Profile
| Died | Early October 2026, South Africa (aged 52) |
|---|---|
| Nationality | South African |
| Education | Honours degree in Publishing Studies, University of the Witwatersrand |
| Occupation | Corporate communications specialist, journalist |
| Known for | National spokesperson for Eskom, 2015–2019; spokesperson for the Public Protector South Africa, 2024–2026 |
| Last position | Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications, Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) |
Education and Early Career in Journalism
Phasiwe held an Honours degree in Publishing Studies from the University of the Witwatersrand.
He began his professional career in financial journalism, working as a reporter for Business Day and Business Report before moving into corporate and strategic communications.
Eskom: The Voice of Load Shedding (2015–2019)
Phasiwe spent a decade at Eskom, South Africa’s state power utility, becoming its national spokesperson in 2015.
In that role, he became one of the most familiar public faces of the company during a period in which the country grappled with persistent rolling blackouts and mounting concerns over the stability of the national electricity grid.
He resigned from Eskom in 2019, after five years in the spokesperson role, describing the experience in later interviews as extremely demanding.
Later Career: Banking, SARAO and the Public Protector’s Office
After leaving Eskom, Phasiwe moved into communications roles at a commercial bank and at the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO).
In May 2024, he was appointed spokesperson for the Public Protector South Africa (PPSA), filling a post that had been vacant since the October 2022 resignation of Oupa Segalwe, and joining the institution shortly after the impeachment of former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane.
Announcing his appointment, the office’s acting spokesperson, Ndili Msoki, said “Mr Phasiwe holds an honours degree in publishing studies from Wits.”
Final Role at ATNS and Death
At the time of his death, Phasiwe was serving as Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications at Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS), South Africa’s air traffic management agency.
According to his family and multiple South African news outlets, he died after suffering a seizure, having battled seizures for several years.
Tributes and Funeral
News of Phasiwe’s death drew tributes from across South Africa’s media and communications sector. The African Media & Communication Forum (AMCF) extended condolences to his family, colleagues and the wider communications community, saying “We honour the life, legacy and invaluable contribution of Khulu Phasiwe.” His funeral was scheduled to be held at Grace Bible Church in Pimville, Soweto.
Career Timeline
| Period | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Early career | Works as a financial journalist at Business Day and Business Report |
| ~2009 | Joins Eskom |
| 2015 | Becomes Eskom’s national spokesperson |
| 2019 | Resigns from Eskom after a decade at the utility |
| 2019–2024 | Holds communications roles at a commercial bank and the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory |
| May 1, 2024 | Appointed spokesperson for the Public Protector South Africa |
| 2024–2026 | Serves as Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications at ATNS |
| Early October 2026 | Dies at age 52 after suffering a seizure |
Sources
- TimesLIVE — Former Eskom Spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe Dies
- SABC News — Former Eskom Spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe Has Passed Away
- eNCA — Former Eskom Spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe Dies
- EWN — Former Eskom Spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe Dies at 52
- EWN — Office of the Public Protector Appoints Khulu Phasiwe as New Spokesperson
- Public Protector South Africa — PPSA Welcomes New Spokesperson
- African Insider — Former Eskom Spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe Dies
Zeez is the editor and founder of BioOrbit, where he researches and writes biographies of public figures from Nigeria and around the world. With 5 years of experience writing about news, entertainment, sports and politics, Zeez focuses on verified facts, clear sourcing and regular updates. Found an error? Report a correction.
