MEDIA STATEMENT: The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) is shocked and saddened this morning after hearing of the untimely death of Mr Letsebe on the June 12, 2011.

Mr. Harry Letsebe was the programmes director for almost a year (2009 – 2010) leading the projects team of the MDDA responsible for the grant making, capacity building, technical support, advocacy, research and training. He was promoted from being a programme manager (Community Media) after having been with the MDDA from its inception.

He was part of the process of setting up the Agency, its systems and procedures.  The Agency appreciates the years of service and contributions of Mr. Letsebe to the work and success of the Agency, including the years of receiving unqualified audit reports from the Auditor General of SA.

His mark in the MDDA, knowledge of the community media sector and his technical expertise will always be remembered. His wealth of experience in grant making, leadership and knowledge of the media industry was so valuable to the Agency.

He has been involved in media development for more than 10 years; including Khanya College, Up Beat Magazine, South African Students Press Union (SASPU), Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) and the Heinrich Boell Stiftung as a Programme Manager for the Media Programme for Southern Africa region.

“I have personally worked well with Mr. Harry Letsebe and will miss his humbleness and commitment to the success of the MDDA. I use to refer to him as a directory of community and small commercial media, as he had contacts information and details of all projects.

“On behalf of the Agency I would like to thank Mr. Harry Letsebe for his selfless contributions towards facilitation of development and diversity in the South African media and to the promotion of the right to freedom of expression and access to information as enshrined in our Constitution.

“To the family, we say, you are not alone in this pain, the entire South African media industry shares the pain with you, masilaleni ngoxolo, akuhlanga lungehliyo, olwakhe ugqatso ulufezile. Let us all let him rest in peace, as he joins cadres of the alternative media like the late Tshepo Rantho, the late Chris Gutuza, the late Edric Gorfinkel, the late Fana “Khabzela” Khaba, the late Ms Nicollete Tladi, the late Queen Mkhondwane, etc. all our colleagues in the early 90s in the community media struggles,” said Mr. Lumko Mtimde, the chief executive officer of the MDDA.

At the time of his untimely death, Mr. Harry Letsebe had joined Media Basics as the Business Development Director.

For further details regarding funeral arrangements, please contact Mboneni Molaudzi, Executive Director Media Basics, on 082 889 2971.