Tributes pour for late veteran photographer, Sam Nzima
The Presidency and former public protector, Thuli Madonsela have led tributes to late photographer, Sam Nzima who died at the age of 83.
It's understood the photojournalist died in a Mbombela hospital on Saturday night.
He reportedly passed away in a Mbombela hospital in Mpumalanga on Saturday night.
Nzima is best known for his picture of a wounded Hector Pieterson being carried to safety during the Soweto uprisings in June 1976.
While his family has not been reached for comment, tributes have been shared by prominent South Africans and politicians.
The Congress of the People (COPE) described his death as a great loss for South Africa.
"Mr Nzima, through his camera lens, played a very crucial role in recording the history and the event that lead to the present democratic South Africa," COPE's National Chairperson Pakes Dikgetsi said.
Dikgetsi says the image of Pieterson, taken on 16 June 1976, is a "proper account and reflection of what happened in 1976".
Tributes have also been streaming in on social media.
Watch: Late great photographer uBaba Sam Nzima, chronicles the story behind the monumental image he took of Hector Pieterson being carried by Mbuyisa Makhubu on June 16, 1976.
— Min. Nathi Mthethwa (@NathiMthethwaSA) May 13, 2018
(Video credit: Red Border Films & Time) pic.twitter.com/Gt7yQygHADPresident Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed deep sadness and conveyed his condolences on the sudden passing of veteran photographer and recipient of the National Order of Ikhamanga, Mr Sam Nzima who passed away in Mpumalanga yesterday, 12 May 2018. https://t.co/R4wDhLl2yu
— PresidencyZA (@PresidencyZA) May 13, 2018#SamNzima The last click of liberation struggle cameraman is no more . Rest in Powerful peace and rise in glory... pic.twitter.com/EEAG48iW8T
— Godrich Gardee (@GardeeGodrich) May 12, 2018A towering giant has fallen with the passing of legendary photographer uBaba Sam Nzima. In our darkest hour he risked his life & used his camera not just as a device to capture images, but as an effective tool to expose the brutal Apartheid regime & to tell our story. pic.twitter.com/m3OZAjr305
— Min. Nathi Mthethwa (@NathiMthethwaSA) May 13, 2018RIP Sam Nzima who took the legendary photo of Hector Pieterson.
— Gift Phiri (@MGTHEFIRST_SA) May 12, 2018
16 June 1976...
Contributed a lot to history with this iconic photograph.#June16#SamNzima pic.twitter.com/YxZQFL2ovNThis man,#SamNzima,who captured the picture of a dying #HectorPiterson and exposed the brutality of the apartheid government through the lens of his camera is no more. #RIP pic.twitter.com/Vb162y14Nm
— MALUME SOCHA (@mjtrevor1) May 12, 2018