Sam Nzima, of Hector Pieterson photo fame, has died

Nzima was born on the 8th of August 1934 in Lillydale, a small village in Bushbuckridge. He grew up on a farm. During the school holidays he would go to the Kruger National Park and charge people to get their photographs taken by him.

He ran away to Johannesburg as a young man and found work as a gardener. He eventually became a switchboard operator for eight years.

He used to buy the Rand Daily Mail and was inspired to become a photojournalist. He learnt to develop his writing skills by reading Allister Sparks’ articles and emulating the writing style.

He went to The World newspaper in Johannesburg and asked the editor if he was willing to publish a story. It was published as a feature and he started freelancing for The World. In 1968 he was offered a fulltime job as a photojournalist.

After taking his Pieterson photo in 1976, The World was banned in 1978. The Star and The Rand Daily Mail wanted Nzima to join them but he was unable to do so for fear for his life.

After years of fighting for the rights to his photograph of Pieterson and Mbuyisa Makhubu, Nzima was finally rewarded in 1998 when The Star gave him copyright.

The image was exhibited in Germany along with photographs by Alf Kumalo and Peter Magubane in 2001.

Additional info, SA History