John Liebenberg

John Arthur Liebenberg (3 March 1958 – 16 February 2020) was a South African photojournalist, known for documenting Namibia's independence struggle. He was one of the founding staff members and photographer at The Namibian.[1]

Early life and work

Liebenberg was born in 1958 in Johannesburg, South Africa, and since the age of two he had spent time in an orphanage in Johannesburg and was later fostered. His father had placed him and his two sisters in the home because their mother had abandoned their family. At 18 years old he was conscripted as a soldier and sent to Namibia in 1976. Liebenberg had married in 1984 to Ute, an accomplished violinist. After three children, he and Ute divorced. He then married Inge Kühne in 2005, but they too divorced.[2]

Liebenberg was an established news photographer whose works have been exhibited in Africa and Europe.[3] He documented the Rhodesian Bush War that preceded Namibia's independence in 1990, Liebenberg also worked as a photographer in the Angolan Civil War, and was later employed as a magazine and freelance photographer in South Africa. In 2010 he co-authored a book with Patricia Hayes: Bush Of Ghosts: Life And War In Namibia 1986-90.

Death

He was admitted to a hospital in Johannesburg after he broke his leg in a fall on 10 February 2020.[4] He died on 16 February 2020 at age 61 in Johannesburg, South Africa, following complications in his recovery from surgery.[5] He is survived by a sister, Isabel Swart, two ex-wives: Ute Liebenberg and Inge Kühne. Four children: Joseph, 33, Jessica, 30, Max, 24, and Emile, 14, as well as his first grandson Leo.

References
  1. "Photographer John Liebenberg has died". NBC. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  2. Namibian, The. "A Man Who Photographed War And Suffering". The Namibian. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  3. "John Liebenberg". www.afronova.com. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  4. Namibian, The. "Liberation war photographer John Liebenberg dies". The Namibian. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  5. Namibian, The. "Photographer John Liebenberg remembered for iconic images". The Namibian. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
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