It is with much sadness that Sonke communicates the loss of Khopotso Bodibe who passed away on Tuesday, July 27, 2021.
Khopotso joined Sonke as a Communications Associate in Sonke’s Communications and Strategic Information Unit in 2015. In 2018, he was promoted to RPU – Media & Communications Specialist.
Khopotso spent 10 years as a specialist health journalist, covering mostly HIV and AIDS in South Africa, working as a print and predominantly radio reporter for health-e news where he also was the radio unit editor.
As producer and presenter of “Living with AIDS,” a five-minute weekly slot broadcast on SAfm’s AM LIVE, he was regarded as one of the foremost journalists to have covered the subject of HIV and AIDS in South Africa.
Through the slot, he was able to bring home to many South Africans information about various aspects of AIDS, including what scientists were doing to find new ways of responding to the challenge locally and abroad, how AIDS was affecting the economy, and the impact of the epidemic on individuals, families, communities and society as a whole.
At Sonke, Khopotso managed communications for the MenEngage Africa (MEA) an Alliance of organisations working on positive masculinities and ending harmful practices in the region. In this portfolio once more Khopotso excelled in communicating the work of the MEA and coordinating all media with external stakeholders. In addition to this Khopotso increased MEA’s social media presence and successfully developed the MEA website.
Khopotso was much-loved and respected by his colleagues and by our partners across the continent. He was an upstanding person who not only supported his colleagues but also the MenEngage Africa Alliance where he has built strong partnerships with MEA partners. As an organisation we are struggling to process Khopotso’s untimely passing. Khopotso had a presence – when he walked into the room you knew he had arrived; he had a larger than life personality and an infectious smile that we will always remember him by. These are our only comforts for now as we try to come to terms with his untimely passing.
Our heartfelt condolences to his family, his sister Alita Nonceba Mahe and his nieces and nephews. You are in our thoughts and prayers during this very sad time in your lives.
