This year, we bid farewell to extraordinary figures who shaped history through their courage, creativity, and contributions. From Tony Heard's fearless journalism and Connie Chiume's cultural brilliance to Dingaan Thobela's legendary boxing career and Pravin Gordhan's steadfast leadership, their stories resonate with inspiration. Globally, icons like Quincy Jones, Maggie Smith, and James Earl Jones left legacies that transformed arts and culture.

As 2024 nears its end, the world reflects on the profound loss of individuals who significantly affected their fields and communities. These remarkable lives spanned journalism, arts, sports, and activism, leaving behind legacies that inspire and resonate deeply.

Tony Heard (20 November 1937 to 27 March 2024)

Tony Heard began his storied career as a junior reporter at the Cape Times. By 1958 he had transitioned to parliamentary reporting, covering crucial moments such as the anti-pass Langa march led by PAC leader Philip Kgosana on 30 March 1960. In 1964, he joined the Financial Mail as its Cape editor. In 1971, he took the helm of the Cape Times as its editor, cementing his reputation as a fearless journalist committed to truth and justice.

Janet Heard, Tony's daughter, offered heartfelt reflections on her father:

"Tony was a compassionate, curious, and tolerant father. He was a democrat who believed in the fight for non-racialism and social justice, and his pen and his editorship were his weapons."

Dingaan Thobela (24 September 1966 to 29 April 2024)

Known as "The Rose of Soweto", Dingaan Thobela was a legendary figure in South...