Former Pretoria News editor Val Boje dies
FORMER Pretoria News editor, veteran journalist and National Press Club chairperson Val Boje took her last breath yesterday morning after surgery at Zuid-Afrikaans Hospital in Pretoria.
Boje, married to Roy Devenish for 39 years, would have turned 63 in November. She was in hospital for a minor heart operation.
According to one of her last social media statuses, she was upbeat and positive about her health and the care that she was receiving.
In a statement, her family said the legendary scribe lived and breathed the Pretoria News. She worked her entire career at the Pretoria daily.
“This is something unheard of in modern times. That's an indication of the sort of dedication and loyalty that was so much a part of her core being,” the family said.
“She was a woman of incredible moral integrity who always fought fiercely for what she believed was right. She was intensely capable and excelled in every position she occupied.”
The family further described her as someone who could achieve anything she put her mind to.
“This was evident in the successes she achieved, starting as a junior reporter and working over the years as a reporter, sub-editor, editor, and for the last year as an advisor. She had planned to retire at the end of 2021.
“We are immensely proud of the woman she was, and will miss her dearly. Her passing was unexpected, and we are grateful for the support of friends and from the media fraternity.”
Independent Media executive chairman Dr Iqbal Survé said: “Val will be remembered for many, many things, but most importantly for her commitment to Independent Media and her colleagues, which can be summed up in a phrase she often used: we are stronger together.”
He said Boje was a South African media stalwart who would be remembered for her total dedication and commitment to her craft.
“My warmest thoughts go to her family and colleagues during this very sad time.”
Boje was the longest-serving editor in the Independent Media group before her appointment as senior editorial adviser in January this year.
Piet Mahasha Rampedi, the editor of Pretoria News, said Boje’s passing had left the entire newsroom shocked, sad and devastated.
“Once again death has robbed us of a good soul, colleague and veteran editor who has left an indelible mark in the journalism fraternity. Val and others before her laid a solid foundation and took Pretoria News to greater heights. She literally trained and mentored almost every one in our newsroom, and held me by the hand when I succeeded her. It’s a huge loss,” he said.
She was elected chairperson of the National Press Club (NPC) about two years ago and was part of the team organising the annual Percy Qoboza Memorial Lecture, to be held on October 19.
NPC general manager Jos Charle said Boje brought her experience and wide network of contacts to enhance the activities of the organisation.
“I came to know Val as a passionate, professional person who threw her all into whatever she was assigned to do. This is a profound loss. We would like to offer condolences to her husband, Roy Devenish, son John, daughterin-law Carli, daughter Christine, her parents, her grandchildren and to the members of the National Press Club.”
Phumla Williams, director-general at the Government Communication and Information System, expressed her condolences.
“We worked closely with
Val and have lost one of the most professional and dedicated journalists. She understood that at times the media and government needed to collaborate to better serve the people of South Africa and she was always ready to do that,” Williams said.
Funeral details will be announced in due course, according to the family.