Sanef on ‘Oom Ray’: We have lost a giant
The South African National Editors Forum (Sanef) says they will miss 'Oom Ray' editorial wisdom, his passion for justice and his unstoppable energy.
The organisation has led tributes to veteran reporter Raymond Louw, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 92.
Sanef’s executive director Kate Skinner says Louw led an incredible life, dedicated to media freedom, access to information and freedom of expression.
"Louw did the most incredible work around legislation and policy and he also fought for the safety of journalists.”
Louw, who was fondly known as ‘Oom Ray’ at Sanef , was a journalist, editor and media commentator.
"He was the winner of numerous national and international media freedom awards. In 2011 he was named a “World Press Freedom Hero” by the Vienna-based International Press Institute the award acknowledged his commitment to press freedom and his outspoken defence of journalist rights,” says Skinner.
"He won Sanef’s Stephen Wrottesley award three times for his tireless commitment to the organization."
Louw's cause of death is not yet known.